- Consider mentioning why you’re away.
- Add your return date the date you will return.
- Determine whether you’ll check emails.
- Identify your point of contact.
- Out-of-office messages for fully disconnecting.
- Out-of-office message for staying connected.
Maternity leave can be an exciting, but also daunting time for expectant mothers. It is important for professional women to take the appropriate steps to prepare for their maternity leave as it can be a great opportunity to both rest and bond with a newborn. While maternity leave may feel like a mini-vacation from work, it is important to set up an out of office message that communicates the necessary information regarding the leave without compromising a professional image. This blog post will provide important advice to those preparing for maternity leave on how to construct an effective out of office message that will ensure a smooth transition into their time off. Additionally, it will discuss the importance of maintaining a professional image while away from the office. By following the tips provided, expectant mothers can have peace of mind that their out of office message is clear, professional, and reflects the right message to their colleagues.
CA Maternity Leave Explained by an Employment Lawyer
How to write a maternity leave out-of-office message
The fundamental steps you must follow to write an out-of-office message for parental or maternity leave are listed below:
1. Consider mentioning why youre away
First, you should decide whether to let people know why you won’t be in the office. You could explicitly state that you are on a parental leave or just say that you will be out of the office for a while. Ultimately, this decision is up to you.
2. Add your return date the date you will return
It’s crucial to indicate the day you’ll return to work. To help the person who contacted you decide whether they should get in touch with someone else while you’re away if you don’t know the precise return date, you could include a broad estimate, like “mid-October,” instead.
3. Determine whether youll check emails
Choose whether you’ll read email only occasionally (for a particular client, for example) or never. Setting expectations for the level of involvement others can expect from you is crucial if you do plan to continue working while on parental leave. You might, for instance, mention whether you’ll be checking your email daily or once a week. If the email requires a quick response, you could also instruct the sender to use the word “URGENT” in the subject line.
The most important thing is to establish expectations and boundaries up front, regardless of how involved you want to be. So that your coworkers and potential clients know what to expect while you’re away
4. Identify your point of contact
In order to create an out-of-office response, you must first decide who will handle your duties while you are on parental leave. You might want to include the information for more than one person in your auto-reply depending on how your workload is distributed. This may make it simpler for the email sender to make sure they are getting in touch with the right person.
For instance, you could say, “Contact Steven Green at [email protected] with any client inquiries.” com. For new client requests, contact Erin Myers at [email protected]. com. For all other inquiries, please contact Michael at [email protected]. com.
Make sure your points of contact are aware that you have included their contact information in your email. Ask your manager what details should be in your email if you are unsure of who will be handling your work or if you don’t want to name specific individuals.
Why write a parental or maternity leave out-of-office message?
An out-of-office message for parental or maternity leave lets people know that you’re currently unavailable, sets expectations for when you’ll return to work, and specifies who can be contacted in your absence.
You’re prepared for the possibility that you might need to start your parental leave early by preparing this message well in advance of your leave.
Maternity leave out-of-office email template
You can use the following model to create your out-of-office message for parental leave:
Thank you for your email. I’ll be absent from the office until [date] [due to maternity or parental leave].
[Ill be checking my email weekly/monthly/periodically. Please resend any messages you want me to review with the subject line “URGENT,” and I’ll respond as soon as I can. ].
Please get in touch with [name] at [email/phone number] if you require immediate assistance. Depending on the project or particular need, [provide the contact details of others who can be contacted]
All the best,
[Name]
Sample maternity leave out-of-office messages
Here are some sample out-of-office replies for parental leave:
Out-of-office messages for fully disconnecting
Here are three sample emails you can use to create your own if you intend to completely sever your ties with your job while on parental leave:
Out-of-office message for staying connected
If you intend to stay in touch while on maternity leave, you can use the following sample out-of-office message.
FAQ
What should I write in maternity leave email?
From [Date] to [Date], I will be on maternity leave. I will have no access to email during this time. Please get in touch with [Name] at [Email] or [Phone] if you require immediate assistance. Otherwise, I will respond to your message upon my return.
How do I say maternity leave?
Dear [name of employer], I am writing to let you know that I am expecting a child. My expected week of childbirth is [insert date]. On [insert date you’d like to begin your maternity leave], I’d like to begin mine.
What should I do on my last day of work before maternity leave?
- Best wishes for a joyous and restful maternity leave.
- Congratulations on your new arrival! …
- Happy maternity leave and welcome to your new baby, my dear!
- Throughout your maternity leave, I’ll be thinking of you and sending you lots of love.
