Work out of office messages - brisk or fluffy?

[Lottapianos]

I've just had an OOO message from a colleague along these lines:

'Hi, I'm currently on leave, returning on X date when I hope I will be rested and renewed
I promise I'll reply when Im not so snowed under by emails
Wishing you an easy and relaxing day
Name'

I don't know this person at all well - they come across as v competent but pretty twee and cutesy as well, people pleasing I guess. I find the out of office message pretty cringe but it did make me laugh, and I guess it's a change from the usual!

What do you think - should OOO messages be brisk and factual, or warm and fluffy?

Work OOO messages should be professional and to the point. That is a bit 'personal' for my liking.

That’s awful! Mine states I’m ooo with my return date, and who to contact in my absence if they can’t wait.
Ive never seen one like your colleague’s!

#TeamBrisk here. Keep it factual : I am currently out of the office, returning on Xxxday 99th Month.
Plus a note about who to contact in my absence, if relevant.
Mind you, I used to be criticised for being too blunt.

I prefer brisk and professional, can't stand all this emotional, therapy language which has become more normalised in the workplace.

Factual.
wishing someone who is still at their desk, maybe picking up the slack for people who are on holiday an ‘easy and relaxing day’ seems quite crass and tactless to me tbh.

our HR folk all seem to have put on a OOO message even though they’re actually not all on holiday yet. It comes over as ‘we’re geared down, social stuff to do, don’t hassle us.’

Team brisk here too. I get emails from big wigs in my company but also suppliers etc and don’t think anything fluffy would be appropriate. It’s been hard enough finding a brisk but clear ‘I don’t work ‘X’ days of the week’ message.

Gen Z seem to have a competition over who can put the naffest OOO message. They are cringy. Should just be factual and professional.

Probably got AI to write it. I've had colleagues use AI to write witty OOO messages.

its a bit more expressive than a standard OOO but I wouldn’t think anything of it. I certainly wouldn’t call that fluffy therapy speak!

They sound like an asshole.

It's supposed to be factual and professional.

Factual but polite. I include -

• thanks for the message
• when I will be back
• alternative contacts for different things I look after

'Gen Z seem to have a competition over who can put the naffest OOO message. They are cringy'

I can't keep up with which generation is which, but I would say this person is about 30

Mine is I'm on annual leave until X. Emails will not be responded to in my absence. If your enquiry is urgent contact the main reception on zzz zzz or email at info@.

Is this person quite young?

I received an OOO which said "I'm at Glastonbury this weekend, hopefully I'll be back in one piece and will be able to respond to your email then".

Just the sort of email that someone who thinks they're a superior species for attending Glastonbury would send 😂

Try phrasing it in the positive. "My working days are xyz" not "I don't work ABC".

Mine is brief and professional- thanks, out of office until X date and alternative contact is really the only info needed!

Millennial, then, not Gen Z.

Absolutely right. No one gives a shit

I used to write 'im on leave.....' or 'im on training....' or whatever until it dawned on me that one one gave a shiny fig what I was doing. They just need to know that I'm not around, here's when I'm back, and here's who to contact in the meantime!

God aren’t you all grumpy! I think it’s nice for people to express themselves in their out of office, said as an almost 60yr old in a professional role.

bah humbug 🤣

'I think it’s nice for people to express themselves in their out of office'

To be honest, I think it's the 'expressing themselves' that's irritating a lot of us! 😁

I think for me, it shows that they are an individual, which they can be while still being professional.

I can’t see how it impacts on anyone else.

Cringey, and makes your colleague sound useless and lazy. Nobody should publicly voice that they’re hoping for an “easy and relaxing day” at work 😂

Best one I’ve ever heard of was “I am away until X date. Your email has been deleted. You are welcome to contact me again on X date. Regards” Apparently it was company policy. I’ve always imagined being able to actually do that!

I once saw an out of office message that read something like:

I am too busy to reply to emails. If your enquiry is urgent, please contact my secretary on ...

Brisk and factual. I just need to know you're not available and when you will be. I'd prefer if everything was brisk, I don't need extra waffle to read when I'm busy.