The summer holiday season approaches. Sun cream. Currency. Insurance. And, most glamorous of all, the Out of Office message to be written and activated.
Long gone are the days when the factory whistle would signal the downing of tools for a fortnight. Nowadays, we move from employee to carefree holidaymaker with a click of the mouse, tempered only by a vague awareness of the disgruntlement of the poor colleague whose name and contact details we’ve offered up in our absence.
Unless of course you take a different strategy. Like waltzing off into the sun and leaving no clue as to how the working world will manage without you. Or, conversely, maybe you’re keen to trumpet your own continued availability in case you return to the office to find your job taken by a robot, who’s also now your boss.
What began as a functional message, like a sort of extended ‘back-after-lunch’ note hastily stuck on a shop door, has developed into something broader. The language we use in our ‘OOO’ might give away more about us than we think. Here are five recognisable types:
The Informer – Provides a functional and useful message. ‘I’m away until the 30 August. For any queries in my absence, speak to Steve in Accounts.’ They might even say they’ll respond themselves in a genuine emergency. Very much the genus of the species.
The Martyr – One who goes on holiday but who, through worry over the security of their position or an obsessive inability to let go, is still effectively at their desk. ‘I’m on leave but I will be checking my emails regularly and available on my mobile. I’d rather you call me than allowed a problem to develop for when I return. Or just call me. I’ll answer. Because I want you to know how devoted I am to my job.’
The Absconder – The complete opposite of The Martyr. ‘I’m on leave for two weeks, I will not be responding to any emails when I’m away. Or to any sent when I’m away, when I get back. Deal with it.’ Either for the very senior or the very junior, not the majority of us in the neurotic middle.
The Comedian – We’re all in a tremendous mood on the Friday before we disappear off to be our true selves in another country for a fortnight, but just be aware that what sounds so hilarious and carefree on the eve of your holiday (‘No more working for a week or two..’) might not sound so funny to your contacts in your absence. Or to you, jetlagged and grumpy, two weeks on Monday.
The Fantasist – This is someone who wants the freedom of The Absconder, while pretending to offer the commitment of the Martyr, and ends up with a line that none of us are buying: ‘I will have no access to my emails while I am away.’ They’re saying they’d like to, but it’s simply beyond their control. To which the rest of us say: it’s 2018, where are you holidaying – the moon?
So, enjoy your holiday, and remember to be mindful of the language you use in the message you leave behind. I’ll end by acknowledging the hollow laughter of my fellow freelancers or members of the precariat who would never dream of telling clients they’re even out of the office in the first place…
If you need some PR, communications or writing support over the summer holidays – or any other time – you can contact me here.
Richard Ellis Communications 