Funny out of office messages you can actually use
An out of office reply is the only email guaranteed to be read by everyone who writes to you. That makes it the perfect place for a small joke. Here are funny auto replies sorted by occasion, from mildly playful to only send this if your boss has a sense of humor.
A good rule: keep the essentials (dates and who to contact) and put the joke around them. Nobody minds a laugh as long as they know when you are back.
Safe for any workplace
- Thank you for your email. I am currently out of the office with limited access to email and unlimited access to snacks. I will reply when I return on [date].
- I am away until [date]. If this is urgent, please contact [name]. If it is not urgent, congratulations, you have the same plan as me: wait until [date].
- I am out of office and practicing being unreachable. So far I am very good at it. Back on [date].
- Your email has been received and placed in a queue lovingly managed by future me. Future me returns on [date].
- I am currently away from my desk, which misses me very much. For anything urgent, please contact [name].
Holiday out of office messages
- I am out of office for the holidays until [date]. Your email is very important to me, almost as important as the leftovers.
- Happy holidays! I am away until [date] and will reply in the new year, along with my resolution to reply faster.
- I am currently offline, wrapping presents badly and eating cookies efficiently. Back on [date]. Urgent requests can go to [name], who was nicer to Santa this year.
- Out of office until [date]. Unfortunately, I have decided to move forward with other plans: sleeping, eating and ignoring my laptop.
Vacation auto replies
- I am on vacation until [date]. I will be back with a tan, a souvenir mug and 600 unread emails. Yours will be one of them.
- I am away and have left my laptop at home on purpose. For urgent matters contact [name]. For non urgent matters, see you on [date].
- I am out of the office until [date], somewhere with no signal and, ideally, no meetings.
Last day and leaving the company
- Today is my last day at [company]. Please reach out to [name] for anything related to my work. It was a pleasure, and the snack drawer will miss me.
- I have officially left the building. For anything I used to handle, please contact [name]. For anything else, I am on LinkedIn, Open to Work and open to coffee.
- I am no longer with [company]. My auto reply, however, has decided to stay on and is doing great.
For the job hunting era
Between jobs and still have a personal auto reply? These are for your own inbox, not your employer's.
- Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, I have decided to move forward with other emails at this time. I will keep yours on file.
- I am currently out of office, because I do not have an office. If you are a recruiter, I am available immediately.
- Your message has been received. Expect a response in 3 to 5 business weeks, which I learned from the best.
Want the auto reply in physical form?
Our Out of Office hoodie and mug are the auto reply you can wear: out of office, permanently. They make a good last day or holiday gift for the coworker who deserves a break.
Frequently asked questions
Is it OK to use a funny out of office message at work?
Usually, yes, as long as it still says when you are back and who to contact. Keep it light and skip anything that could read as complaining about your job or your clients.
What should every out of office message include?
The date you return, whether you are checking email, and a colleague to contact for anything urgent. Everything else is optional.
Should I use a funny auto reply if I email clients?
Pick one of the safe for any workplace options. They are friendly without being too much for an external audience.
