Maternity and paternity leave
Say you're on leave, when you're back (or that you'll confirm it later) and who's covering. Works for paternity and parental leave too.
Automatic reply: Re: Quick question before you go
You
to Sam Rivera · just now
Slack or Teams status
35/100 characters, Slack's limit. Set it to clear on Mon, Jan 4.
Subject line (Gmail)
Gmail's vacation responder asks for one. Outlook writes its own: “Automatic reply: …”.
Block your calendar
Out of office: On maternity leave
Mon, Oct 12 to Sun, Jan 3 · all day · shows as Out of office
Tell your team lead
Hi! Heads-up: I'll be on maternity leave from Monday, October 12 through Thursday, December 31, and back on Monday, January 4. My out-of-office reply is on.
Open Settings (the gear at the top right), then Accounts › Automatic replies.
Turn on the Automatic replies toggle.
Check Send replies only during a time period. Start: Fri, Oct 9, 5:00 PM. End: Mon, Jan 4, 8:00 AM.
Optional: check Block my calendar for this period and Automatically decline new invitations for events that occur during this period.
Paste your message into the box.
Work account? Check Send replies outside your organization, then Send replies only to contacts, and paste the outside version.
Select Save.
You'll paste
Turning it on the evening before and off the morning you're back means it switches itself off. No forgetting.
For team leads
Auto-replies tell the people emailing you. Your team lead finds out who's out from the bounce-backs. Forgot puts everyone's time off, holidays and release dates on one calendar, so a clash shows up while there's still time to plan around it.
Free for 14 days, no card. Then $9 once, no subscription. Not your call? Send it to your team lead.
Hello, Thank you for your email. I'm currently on maternity leave and will return on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. If your matter is urgent, please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. I look forward to reconnecting when I'm back. Best regards, [Your name]
Thank you for your message. I'm out of the office, returning on [return date]. I will not have access to email during this time. For anything urgent, please reach out to [colleague's name] at [their email]. I'll reply as soon as I can when I'm back. Kind regards, [Your name]
Hi! I'm on maternity leave, getting to know the newest member of our family. I'll be back on [return date]. I won't be checking email while I'm away. While I'm out, [colleague's name] is covering for me and can help at [their email]. Thanks for understanding, [Your name]
Hello! Thanks for your email. Our family just got a little bigger, so I'm on maternity leave until [return date]. I'm not checking email, and I'll catch up when I'm back. For anything urgent, please reach out to [colleague's name] at [their email]. All the best, [Your name]
I'm on maternity leave until [return date], without email. Please contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. [Your name]
I'm on maternity leave until [return date]. Urgent? Contact [colleague's name] at [their email]. [Your name]
I'm on maternity leave, reporting to a new boss who is very small, very loud and doesn't believe in sleep. I'll be back on [return date]. Until then, [colleague's name] is covering for me at [their email]. [Your name]
Hello! I've been promoted to Chief Diaper Officer, so I'm on maternity leave until [return date]. The hours are terrible and the pay is in smiles. While I'm out, [colleague's name] is covering for me and can help at [their email]. [Your name]
Hi! Thanks for your note. I'm on paternity leave and back on [return date]. I won't be checking email while I'm away. If it can't wait, [colleague's name] can help at [their email]. Talk soon, [Your name]
Hi, this is [Your name]'s inbox. [Your name] is out of the office until [return date] and left me in charge, which was a bold choice, because I'm an inbox. For anything urgent, [colleague's name] is an actual human and can help at [their email]. Yours in storage, The inbox
Babies keep their own schedule
Write the message weeks ahead and save it. If you go early, your manager or IT can switch it on for you.
A return date is optional
"Returning in the spring" or no date at all is fine. Tick "I don't know when I'm back" and the message says you'll confirm later.
Name the right backup
If your work is split between people, list who covers what. One name for everything means one person forwarding everything.
Whichever you're comfortable with. "Parental leave" is neutral and common; "maternity" and "paternity" are more personal. The generator has all three.
No. Plans change, and it's fine to say you'll confirm it later. If you do give one, people will hold you to it, so give the safe date.
Only if you want to. A warm line is lovely for colleagues; for clients and strangers, "on leave until" is plenty.