10 Professional Away Email Templates to Use for Your Out-of-Office Messages

Do you struggle with crafting the perfect away email template when you’re out of office? Look no further, my fellow globetrotters and busy bees! I’ve got just the thing for you. There’s nothing worse than leaving your inbox unattended, wondering if your colleagues and clients are expecting a response from you. But fret not! With the right away email template, you can keep everyone in the loop and ensure a smooth transition while you’re away. And the best part? You can easily find examples and edit them as needed to fit your personal style and professional needs. So sit back, relax, and let me guide you through the art of nailing your out-of-office email.

The Best Structure for an Away Email Template

When it comes to crafting an away email template, it’s important to ensure that it is clear and concise while also remaining professional and courteous. Your recipients should feel respected and informed by your message, so it’s crucial to create a structure that effectively achieves these goals.

First and foremost, begin by crafting a clear and concise subject line that clearly conveys the purpose of your message. This should be something simple like “Out of Office” or “On Vacation” to let your recipients know that you’re unavailable.

Next, open your email with a friendly greeting and an explanation of the absence. This can be as simple as “Thank you for your message. I will not be available until (insert date here) due to (insert reason here).” By providing a brief explanation, you can set clear expectations for your recipients and avoid confusion.

Once you’ve explained your absence, it’s important to provide your recipients with alternative contacts. This could be a colleague or a supervisor who can handle any urgent matters in your absence. Be sure to provide their contact details so that your recipients can easily reach them.

In the body of your email, you may also want to include any important details that your recipients need to be aware of during your absence. For example, if you’re going to be unreachable for an extended period of time, you may want to provide information on how frequently you’ll be checking your email and when you’ll be available to respond.

Finally, be sure to close your email with a friendly message and an indication of when you’ll be available again. This could be something as simple as “Thank you for understanding. I look forward to speaking with you when I return on (insert date here).”

Overall, the best structure for an away email template should be professional, clear, and concise. By following the above guidelines, you’ll be able to craft an effective and informative message that ensures your recipients are well-informed of your absence and how they can best reach you in your absence.

Away Email Templates for Different Reasons

Away from work for vacation

Dear All,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to let you know that I will be away from work for the next two weeks. I am planning to go on vacation with my family to Europe, and I am really excited about it.

During my absence, please feel free to contact [insert name and contact information of the individual who will cover for you] for any urgent matters that require immediate attention. I have also delegated some of my responsibilities to [insert names of other team members who will help with your work], so they will be able to handle any tasks that come up in my absence.

I will be checking my emails intermittently, but I will not be able to respond to them promptly. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible upon my return.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to coming back with renewed energy and focus.

Best regards,

[Your name]

Away for personal reasons

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to inform you that I will be away from work for a while due to some personal reasons that require my attention. I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause, and I appreciate your understanding.

Please feel free to contact [insert name and contact information of the individual who will cover for you] for any urgent matters that require immediate attention. I have also delegated some of my responsibilities to [insert names of other team members who will help with your work], so they will be able to handle any tasks that come up in my absence.

I will be checking my emails intermittently, but I will not be able to respond to them promptly. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible upon my return.

Thank you once again for your support, and I look forward to being back in the office soon.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Away for a conference or training

Dear all,

I am emailing to inform you that I will be away from work for the next [insert number of days or weeks] to attend a conference/training session in [insert location]. I am excited about this opportunity to enhance my skills and knowledge, and I look forward to sharing with you the insights and best practices that I learn.

During my absence, please feel free to contact [insert name and contact information of the individual who will cover for you] for any urgent matters that require immediate attention. I have also delegated some of my responsibilities to [insert names of other team members who will help with your work], so they will be able to handle any tasks that come up in my absence.

I will be checking my emails intermittently, but I will not be able to respond to them promptly. However, you can reach me via [insert preferred method of communication and contact information].

Thank you for your cooperation, and I will update you upon my return.

Best regards,

[Your name]

Away for medical reasons

Dear team,

I wanted to let you know that I will be away from work for a few days/weeks due to some medical issues that I need to take care of. I want to assure you that it is nothing serious, and I should be able to resume my normal duties soon.

In my absence, [insert name of the individual who will cover for you] will be handling my responsibilities. Please feel free to contact him/her for any urgent matters that require immediate attention.

I will be regularly checking my emails, but my response time may be delayed. If you need to reach me urgently, please call/text me on [insert phone number].

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support. I am looking forward to getting back to the office soon.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Away for maternity/paternity leave

Dear all,

I am writing to let you know that I will be taking a maternity/paternity leave starting from [insert date] for [insert duration].

During my absence, [insert name of the individual who will cover for you] will be handling my responsibilities. Please feel free to contact him/her for any urgent matters that require immediate attention.

I will not be checking emails during my leave, as I will be focusing on my family and my new addition. However, I will update you upon my return, and I look forward to coming back to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

Best regards,

[Your name]

Away for a bereavement/funeral

Dear colleagues,

It is with heavy heart that I am writing to inform you that I will be away from work for a few days/weeks due to a bereavement/funeral in my family. I appreciate your understanding during this difficult time.

During my absence, [insert name of the individual who will cover for you] will be handling my responsibilities. Please feel free to contact him/her for any urgent matters that require immediate attention.

I may not be able to respond to emails promptly, but I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible. If you need to reach me urgently, please call/text me on [insert phone number].

Thank you in advance for your support and condolences. I look forward to returning to work and resuming my normal duties soon.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

Away for recharging and rejuvenating

Dear all,

I am emailing to let you know that I will be taking some time off from work to recharge and rejuvenate. I have been feeling burned out lately, and I need to take a break to refresh my mind and body.

During my absence, [insert name of the individual who will cover for you] will be handling my responsibilities. Please feel free to contact him/her for any urgent matters that require immediate attention.

I will not be checking emails during my break, as I want to fully disconnect and focus on self-care. However, I will be back soon, refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges.

Thank you for your understanding, and I appreciate your support.

Best regards,

[Your name]

Away Email Template Tips

When writing an away email template, it’s important to make sure that your message is clear, concise, and conveys all of the necessary information to your recipients. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your away email template.

  • Keep it short and sweet – Your away email template shouldn’t be a novel. Keep your message short and to the point, with all of the necessary information included.
  • Provide alternative contact information – Make sure to give your recipients an alternate way of getting in touch with you while you’re away. This could be an email address or phone number for a colleague who will be covering for you, or a general email address or phone number for your department.
  • Set expectations for your return – Let your recipients know when you will be back and available again. This will help manage their expectations and reduce any potential stress or frustration that may arise from not being able to get in touch with you immediately.
  • Use a professional tone – While you may be away from work, it’s important to maintain a professional tone in your away email template. This will help reinforce your position as a responsible and reliable employee, even while you’re out of the office.
  • Give thanks and express appreciation – Take some time to express your appreciation for your recipients’ understanding and patience while you’re away. This will help maintain positive relationships with your colleagues and clients, and make it easier to transition back into work once you return.
  • Include an auto-reply message – Make sure to set up an auto-reply message for your email account, so that your recipients receive an automatic response when they send you an email. This will help minimize any confusion or frustration that may arise from not receiving a response immediately.

By following these tips, you can create an effective away email template that will help you stay in touch with your colleagues and clients while you’re away from work. Remember to keep your message short and sweet, provide alternative contact information, and maintain a professional tone. And don’t forget to express your appreciation and set expectations for your return.

Away Email Template FAQs


What is an away email template?

An away email template is a pre-written email message that can be used to inform recipients that you are away from the office or unavailable to respond to emails for a certain period of time.

How do I create an away email template?

To create an away email template, start by outlining the key information you want to convey in the email. Then, write a brief message that includes details about your availability, an emergency contact if necessary, and a polite closing.

Why do I need an away email template?

An away email template can help you to manage expectations of your email recipients when you are unavailable. It also ensures that your contacts receive a professional, responsive message even when you are out of the office.

Can I customize my away email template?

Yes, you can customize your away email template to include specific details about your absence or contact information you want to be shared in the email message.

Should I include an emergency contact in my away email template?

If you are away from the office for a significant amount of time, it may be useful to include an emergency contact in your away email template so that important issues can be addressed in your absence.

How long should I set my away email template for?

The length of time you set your away email template for will depend on how long you will be away from the office. It’s best to set your away message for the entire duration of your absence to manage expectations of your email recipients.

What are some best practices for creating an away email template?

Some best practices for creating an away email template include providing a clear subject line, using a friendly tone in your message, and avoiding sharing sensitive information or details about your whereabouts.

Happy travels from your inbox!

Now that you’ve got your away email template sorted, you won’t have to stress about keeping everyone in the loop while you’re soaking up sun on the beach or exploring a new city. Just remember, it’s important to take time for yourself and disconnect from work every once in a while. Thanks for reading, and be sure to visit us again for more work and life tips that feel just like a natural conversation with a close friend. Safe travels!