Whether you’re a dad who wants to stay connected on parental leave or completely disconnect, we have a fun and light-hearted out-of-office message for you! Use these templates as inspo for your own message or choose one to make your own.

Essentially, your out of office message should include a few things:

Your expected return date

If you don’t know it yet, put the maximum expected leave period on your message. It’s important to let people know how long you will be gone so they can manage their request accordingly.

Your replacement or relevant points of contact

It’s critical you include who to contact in your absence and how to reach them.

Set expectations and boundaries

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and be clear about how you will be managing your emails. If you won’t be logging on, don’t be afraid to say, “During this time I won’t have access to my email.” If you will be occasionally checking, again, set clear expectations.

A light-hearted out-of-office message for dads

Hi there

If you’re reading this email, it means the once pending arrival of my second child is no more, and I’ve started parental leave 2.0.

I don’t anticipate any delays getting back to you as my newborn will be eating contentedly, sleeping through the night, and pretty much taking care of themself. All the while my three-year-old will be helping to change nappies, cook, clean, and generally be an upstanding member of the household. 

However, if I don’t respond immediately, it probably means my expectations have come crashing down to earth and I’ll be trying to figure out how to swaddle again, re-adjust to my new sleeping pattern, and reason with a three-year-old. 

In all seriousness, I will be soaking up this special time with my family so I won’t be able to respond. If the matter is urgent or for general inquiries and assistance, please contact [insert contact name] on [insert phone number] or [insert email address].

I look forward to catching up and speaking with you on my return on [insert return date or month]. 

Regards 

Out of office message for dads who want to stay connected

Hi there

Thank you for your email. I am currently on parental leave commencing [insert start date] and plan to return [insert end date].

I will be checking emails on a [regularity, ie. weekly, daily] basis, and I will respond when I am next online. If your matter is urgent and requires an immediate response, please contact [insert name] on [insert number] or [email].

For all personal matters, you can contact me on [insert personal email], or join me on Instagram @[insert handle] for a regular dose of baby spam.

Kind regards

Out of office message for dads who want to totally disconnect

Hi there

Thank you for your email. I am on parental leave from [insert start date] to [insert return date or month].

For all enquiries and assistance, please contact [insert name] on [insert number] or [insert email].

During this time, I won’t have access to my email. For all personal matters, please contact me at [insert personal email].

I look forward to reconnecting with you again on [insert return date or month].

Kind regards

Written by the Circle In team.