Out of office message = Maternity Leave?

elizabethnseanny

Do you post "Out on Maternity Leave until date, please contact so and so" or do you just have the out of office on for a long time without explanation?  I will be out at least 8 weeks, so I wasn't sure if I should be specific as to why. I also work at a small company (70 ppl) but also have customers and vendors that contact me.

 TIA for your help! 

brettsmama

Estwd2:

I just said I was out on leave and the dates. I didn't say why.

This. And also who they should contact if they needed assistance.

preggersin2011

I didn't include any dates in mine. Mine just said that I was out of the office and who to contact. Any one you work with should know why you are out, so IMO it is more for outside your company-make sure you include you contact information for who ever is backing you up and probably a manger or someone like that for emergencies. 

elizabethnseanny

Thanks!

marleysimon

I said I was on an "extended leave" and to contact so and so.

IrishTraveler

I did indicate maternity leave, but I was out for 16 weeks and typically only receive company emails.

groovygrl

I think it depends on what you do and if you will check msgs at all. I think dates are important for most ppl bc in general I will not call the other person mentioned if I don't think it is urgent but I would if I heard a message stating the person would be out for weeks or months. I called a psychologist for Ds once and she never called back and I found it very unprofessional....only to get a call three months later from her apogizing that she had been on maternity leave and just or the message. She was not getting my business I will say that...

MommyPace

I am an attorney for the Dept of Child Services and had another attorney handling things for me... I did put on my out of office message I was on maternity leave and when I'd return. I just didn't want important stuff to wait 68 weeks.

LoCarb

What is your company's policy? While on ML w/ DD1, the company policy was not to state why or dates.

New employer w/ DD2 and we have to state dates but again not a reason why.

iluvmylab

I'm a teacher and I just said that I was out on maternity leave until this date and if you need assistance, contact my substitute and gave her email address.

Netty_3

Saem as PP just say when you'll be out and back in.

KathrynMD

I don't think I included "maternity leave" but I did say I was out on "extended leave" and would be back "Mid-March" etc. so people got that I'd be gone a LONG time.

katieh1017

I said I was out on leave, estimated date of return and who to contact while I was out. 

elizabethnseanny

LoCarb:

What is your company's policy? While on ML w/ DD1, the company policy was not to state why or dates. New employer w/ DD2 and we have to state dates but again not a reason why.

There is no policy, and my boss is the owner. I need to think about this a little...I wouldn't want customers to wait 8 weeks, but know he won't be able to take the time either.

LittleFish1

Teacher also. In my email auto reply, I indicated that I might be checking the email while on leave occasionally, however not to expect a reply until the end of the next month ... worded it so would be a couple of weeks after returning so I would have some adjustment and catch up time. Also included if there was an urgent matter, parent could send note to sub through their student or contact the front office.

CaniacMom

My out of office did not state why I was out - it did give an expected return & who they could contact for assistance in my absence.

But I did send out an announcement a couple of days before I went out that I was going out on Maternity Leave.  Our industry is pretty tight-knit and my customers would want to know why I was gone for so long.