The Dos and Don'ts of Writing an Out-of-Office Reply

It is the busiest time for holidays. Many people are away from work. Before they leave, they write an out-of-office message. This is an automatic email reply. It tells people the worker is not at their desk.

The BBC looked at how to write a good out-of-office message. A good message is short and clear. It tells people when the worker will come back. It can also give another person to contact for help.

Some people try to be funny in their message. For example, they might write 'I'm in Barbados'. This can make people smile. But experts say a message like this is not always a good idea for work.

A good out-of-office reply should still sound professional. This means it should be polite and clear, even if it is a little fun. It should help people know what to do next.

Many workers now go on holiday in summer. So, many people will see out-of-office messages this month. Writing a good one can make a person look more organised and reliable at work.