15 Examples of Out-of-Office Messages for Medical Leave

Out-of-office messages help professionals inform others who are trying to contact them of their situation. These messages can be especially helpful when a professional is on medical leave, as they may be out of the office for a varying amount of time. If you're preparing for a sick day or medical leave, it may be important to understand how to create an out-of-office message. In this article, we explain what an out-of-office message for medical leave is, what you can include in them and share 15 examples to help you write your own message.

Related: How to Write a Leave Application Email (With Example)

What is an out-of-office message for medical leave?

An out-of-office message for medical leave is an automated response professionals attach to their email and voicemail systems to inform other professionals of their absence from work. This type of message is helpful for medical leave, as professionals who are on medical leave are often out of the office for an extended amount of time. They also may have left the office unexpectedly, which makes out of office messages even more helpful, as they wouldn't have time to alert others of their upcoming absence.

Professionals can create out of office messages for medical leave through a variety of mediums, including:

• Voicemail: You may create a message for professionals to listen to after trying to contact you via phone.

• Email: You can create an automated email response that sends any professional who emails you a copy of your out-of-office message.

• Internal message: You may just share your out-of-office message via the workplace's group chat or any other medium for company and team communication.

Depending on your personal preference, company policy and communication habits, you may create an out-of-office message for one or more of these mediums.

Related: How to Write a Leave Application Email (With Example)

What do out-of-office messages include?

When creating an out-of-office message for medical leave, you may want to consider including the following components:

Dates of your absence

You can begin your out-of-office message by explaining how long you may be out of the office. For medical leave, you may have a longer period of time in which you may be out of the office. It's helpful to include the dates of your leave as this can help other professionals expect when they can contact you. If you're on leave due to an emergency situation or are unexpectedly sick, you may not know the dates to include in this message. If this is the case, it's helpful to simply state that you may be absent for an unknown amount of time.

Explanation

Out-of-office messages typically include a brief explanation for your absence. You don't need to provide a lot of detail in your explanation. If you want to keep your specific reason for your leave private, you may just mention that you're on medical leave. Providing an explanation can help other professionals understand the absence of your presence at work. This can also help encourage them to respect your boundary of no contact during this time.

Related: 15 Out of Office Messages for Professionals

Alternative contacts

To help ensure that the workplace can still function efficiently without you, you may want to include details of staff members who professionals can contact during your leave. For example, you may assign some of your work duties to one of your colleagues and can include their contact information in your message. This can help others understand who to contact with their questions and concerns, which allows workplace operations to continue to function.

Greetings

Though optional, you may also want to add a greeting and closing phrase to your message. This helps you keep a polite tone in your message. Some professionals also adjust the tone of their message to fit their personality and may write their message in a humorous tone, but this isn't always necessary. It may be beneficial to keep your note as simple as possible to ensure you include the necessary information and have time to attend to your other duties before your leave.

15 examples of out of office messages

When creating your own out-of-office message, it may be helpful to consider other examples. Here's a list of 15 examples to help you understand how to write your own out of office message for medical leave:

For short sick leave

You may take a series of sick days for a short illness. Typically, professionals don't have a notice for these types of sicknesses, so you may create an out-of-office message in a short amount of time. Here are some examples of out of office messages for a short sick leave:

1. Hello! I'm currently out of the office due to a fever. I'll be back tomorrow. For any urgent messages, please contact Kim Lai, department manager at KLai20@email.com. Sincerely, Kit Poh

2. Thank you for your message. I'm recovering from a flu and expect to be back in the office on Thursday. If you need assistance before this time, please message Kim Lai, who's handling my manager duties until I return. Thanks! Kit Poh

3. Hi, everyone! Just a quick update: I got sick this weekend and am still feeling ill. I'll be out of the office today and tomorrow. In the meantime, you can contact Kim Lai at +65 8123 9456 with any concerns or questions. Thank you! Kit Poh

4. Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, I'm out of the office today as I'm not feeling well. I'll respond to your message by the end of tomorrow. If you need a response before this time, please resend your email with the word 'URGENT' in the subject line. Sincerely, Kit Poh

5. I'm not feeling well, so I'll be out of the office today. I hope to feel well enough to return to the office tomorrow so I'll update you all if this is the case. Please message Kim Lai if you need anything, as she is managing my responsibilities until I return. Thank you. Kit Poh.

Related: How to Write a Sick-Day Email Message With Examples and Tips

For extended medical leave with no return date

You may take an extended medical leave if you have an emergency illness or a severe diagnosis. If you're not sure when you might return from your leave but you expect it to be a longer leave, you might want to provide more information in your message. Here are some examples of this type of message:

1. Hello! Unfortunately, I'm experiencing a medical emergency and am out of the office. I'm unsure when I'm returning, so please message my manager, Kit Poh, if you need assistance. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, Kim Lai.

2. Thank you for your message. I'm currently out of the office due to a medical condition. Please forward your message to Kit Poh, assistant manager, to receive assistance.

3. Hi, team. I'm going to have an emergency surgery and am unsure how long my recovery may take. While I'm absent, please contact Kit Poh, who's handling some of my duties during my leave. Thank you!

4. Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, I'm on medical leave and can't respond to your request right away. If the task is urgent, please contact Kit Poh. Otherwise, I'm happy to respond to your request as soon as I return. Thank you for your understanding.

5. I'm currently out of the office for a medical issue and am unsure of my return date. If you're contacting me about an urgent matter, please relay your message to my manager, Kit Poh. Thank you!

For extended medical leave with a return date

If you have a clear idea of how long your recovery and medical leave may last, it's helpful to include this information in your message. You can continue to update your message throughout your leave if the date changes. Here are some examples of an out of office message you may write when you have a return date for your medical leave:

1. Hi, team! This is just a reminder my medical leave starts tomorrow. I'll return to the office next month. During this time, please message Kit Poh regarding anything for which you would typically contact me. Thanks for your understanding!

2. Thank you for your message. I'm currently out of the office due to my medical leave. I can respond to your email when I return on the 20th. If you need assistance before this date, please contact Kit Poh at KPOH@email.com.

3. Hello! Unfortunately, I'm unable to respond to your request, as I'm on medical leave. I expect to return to the office early next week. If your message is urgent, please resend the email and add the word "URGENT" in the subject line. I'll respond as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

4. Hi, you've reached Kim Lai's office. I'm currently out of the office until Wednesday, February 22nd. Please relay your message to Kit Poh at +65 9123 8765 if you need assistance. Thank you!

5. Dear team, I will begin my medical leave tomorrow for a routine surgery. I expect to return to the office in two weeks. Please message me by 5:00 p.m. today if you need anything. During my absence, you can message Kit Poh for help. Thank you!

Related: Paid vs Unpaid Leave of Absence: Definition and Examples