There are countless moments in life when we wish we could just let someone else deal with things. Like when the alarm clocks blares on Monday morning, or when the cat decides that 3 AM is the perfect time for its solo symphony. Or when you look at your overflowing inbox and wish there was a magic button every time an email arrives that yells, “Please, not today!”
Enter the humble out-of-office email.
It's meant to be a simple notification: "I'm not here right now, but I promise I'll get back to you."But, like many things in life, it can be transformed into something much more entertaining.
Because, in the right hands, an out-of-office reply is a delightful canvas for creativity—a chance to inject some humour into the otherwise bleak corporate world.
So, without further ado, here are some of the funniest out-of-office emails we’ve ever seen. Warning: May cause spontaneous laughter and an overwhelming desire to book a holiday.
1. The Great Escape
One of the most memorable emails began with:
"Thank you for your email. I am currently on leave, having finally made my escape from the confines of the office."
It continued with:
"If this is an urgent matter, I wish you luck in your endeavors, as I am now entirely unreachable. I may return eventually, but until then, I am enjoying the freedom of a world without meetings. Cheers!"
We salute you, brave soul.
2. The Overly Honest Reply
Honesty is the best policy, they say. But perhaps this one took it a bit too far:
"I am currently out of the office on holiday because I desperately needed a break from the chaos. Honestly, just needed to escape before I threw my computer out of the window. I'll be back next week, hopefully less stressed and more sane. If your email is urgent, please ask yourself if it really is, or if you've just procrastinated and left it to the last minute. Cheers!"
At least there’s no ambiguity there!
3. The Vacation Detective
One employee channeled their inner detective with:
"Thank you for your email. I am currently investigating the whereabouts of my sanity on a much-needed vacation. I suspect it has fled to a beach somewhere, and I'm determined to locate it. If you have any pressing matters, I suggest trying smoke signals or carrier pigeons, as I am off the grid. I'll report back with my findings upon my return!”
We can only hope their case was closed successfully.
4. The Future Visionary
One particularly clever out-of-office read:
"Greetings, time traveller. You have contacted me in the future, where I am on leave until next Monday. If your matter is truly urgent, I suggest you invent a time machine and visit me in the past when I was still in the office. Otherwise, please leave a message, and I'll respond upon my return to the present."
Chances are, anyone reading this email would happily wait until next Monday.
5. The Apocalyptic Scenario
Then there’s the employee who took it to another level:
"Hello! I am currently out of the office until next Tuesday. If this is an emergency, please contact [Colleague's Name]. If this is a zombie apocalypse, good luck. If this is an alien invasion, send help. If this is not an emergency, I'll get back to you when I'm back. Cheers!"
To be fair, in a zombie apocalypse, email wouldn’t be our priority either.
6. The Over-the-Top Excuse
Sometimes, you’ve just got to go big or go home:
"Thank you for your email. I am currently unavailable because I have been chosen to represent Earth in an intergalactic council meeting to decide the fate of humankind. Should I survive the trials and the galactic dance-off, I will reply to you upon my return."
Now that's a story we'd love to hear more about!
7. The Automated Assistant Prank
And who could forget this cheeky automated assistant:
"Hello, you've reached [Name]'s automated assistant. I am currently on vacation, but have trained my personal assistant to respond in my absence. However, as my assistant is a goldfish, the response may be somewhat lacking. For urgent matters, please contact [Colleague's Name]."
We imagine the goldfish did a pretty good job… or at least as good as one can expect from a goldfish.
8. The ‘Subtle’ Hint
Finally, for those who want to make a point:
"I am currently out of the office. If your email is about what I think it is, refer to the last ten emails I sent explaining this. If this is about something else, I will respond when I return. Unless… it’s about what I think it is, again."
We get the feeling someone’s been repeating themselves a bit too often!
Need to Find Employees with a Sense of Humour?
These hilarious out-of-office emails prove that a good sense of humour can brighten up even the dullest day at work.
If you’re looking to recruit individuals who can not only do the job but also bring a touch of joy and creativity to your workplace, we can help.
At Coburg Banks, we specialise in finding candidates who not only fit your requirements but your culture too.
So if you want to hire someone who will make your office a more entertaining place, get in touch.
We promise we won’t be out of the office!
