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  • 1.  Question of the Week: What’s the best “Out of Office” message you have used or received?

    Posted 08-09-2021 09:22:00 AM

    I’ve seen a lot of chatter recently about email auto replies and vacation “out of office” messages. We deserve to unplug, right? Do we need to keep apologizing via voicemail recording for being away? Should we promise to “periodically” check email or note that we may be “slow to reply”?


    What is the best out of office message you have used or received?


    Shhhh, AAMC staff secret: We have a colleague (shall not be named) whose creative and humorous internal OOO replies are legendary. While a pleasure to work with, we also really enjoy it when this person goes on vacation. 


    Looking for some autoreply inspiration? Try this Wikipedia OOO generator.

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    Stephanie Weiner
    Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
    Association of American Medical Colleges
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  • 2.  RE: Question of the Week: What's the best "Out of Office" message you have used or received?

    Posted 08-10-2021 11:07:00 AM

    This is so timely - I am "on vacation" next week.

    I love this one, but I'm not sure I have the guts to use it:
    "Many thanks for your mail. Unfortunately I won't be able to read it, as I am taking my annual email sabbatical. From August 1-29 all my emails will be automatically deleted. See you in September, Yours Joana."



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    Carolyn Pointer
    Assistant Professor
    Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Question of the Week: What's the best "Out of Office" message you have used or received?

    Posted 08-13-2021 01:36:00 PM
    On a lighter note -

    European out-of-office: "I'm away camping for the summer.  Please email back in September."

    American out-of-office: "I've left the office for two hours to undergo surgery, but you can reach me on my cell any time."

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    Anthony Drake-Brockman
    Lead Member Services Associate
    Association of American Medical Colleges
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Question of the Week: What's the best "Out of Office" message you have used or received?

    Posted 08-16-2021 08:32:00 AM
    Anthony, I love that.  
    On a more serious note, as leaders/managers, I think it's important to model behavior that it is okay, and in fact, good for you, to step away from work for an extended period of time -- sometime between the American two hours and the European month. I know leaders who make it a point to say, I'm going on vacation, but I'll probably be working and checking emails etc. and to me, that sends the message that this is what's expected of staff. I prefer to take a summer vacation where I don't open my email on my laptop; I turn off my work email on my phone and I tell people to text or call me if they have an urgent message. I've been doing that for about 10 years and so far, miraculously, I'm still employed and our organization has not burned to the ground in my absences.

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    Michael Buller
    Senior Director, Content & Creative Services
    Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Question of the Week: What's the best "Out of Office" message you have used or received?

    Posted 08-17-2021 11:53:00 AM
    Cell phone in the OR. If they would only allow it! I type this while on vacation at a rustic lake cottage. Wouldn't stay here if it didn't have state-of-the-art WiFi. And during our transition to the new medical school in 2012, I was in the hospital for four days and had a laptop with me.

    I have two employees and we handle communications/marketing/PR/web/social media for UME, GME, all clinical sites, research - you get the idea. To leave on vacation and create additional work for my team, I just can't do it. And as former reporters, my team is bad about turning off work. So even though I tell them not to, they are almost as bad as I am about stepping away. Plus, we are close-knit and miss talking/seeing each other!

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    Laura Eller
    Director of Communications
    Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Question of the Week: What's the best "Out of Office" message you have used or received?

    Posted 11-08-2021 12:14:00 PM
    It's Learn Serve Lead this week! I wanted to resurface this thread and get the community's thoughts on if you use out-of-office messages while you're attending virtual meetings. I put one on my email because I feel like it helps me dive into the virtual conference more deeply and with more focus (not toggling back and forth to my email!), but it's still technically a workday! What do others do? And what are your favorite OOO responses (either one you've used or one you've received)?

    Template Toolbox | Out-of-Office Email When You're Going to a Conference

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    Stephanie Weiner
    Director, Digital Strategy & Engagement
    Association of American Medical Colleges
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    Original Message