Maternity Leave Email Wording?

LJUTCMommy

Mobile Users: Maternity Leave Email Wording? 

I don't normally post here, because I'm not quite a working mom yet, but I will be in a few months time. We're expecting our first child on 8/1/13. Tentatively, I will be leaving work on 7/19 and returning on 11/19. 

I'm trying to set up the wording for my auto-reply email while I'm away. I'm also planning to send out a mass email to my main points of contact on my last day of work. 

I want to avoid putting specific dates on the email though, in case I decided I need another week or two at work before baby arrives, if baby arrives early, if I decide I'm not ready to be back by 11/19, etc. It's so different from a vacation--when there is an exact leave and return to work date. 

Should I just keep it basic and vague--something like

"MrsWahidi is currently on maternity leave. She will be returning to work in late November. If this is urgent, please contact Mr. Martin at mrmartin@company.com".

What did you ladies do? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

 

QueSrah

Being vague is fine in that situation.  I'm sure I did something similar.  Besides - there's your return-to-work date, and the date you think you'll be caught up enough to be helpful   It took me days to catch up on what I missed and get back into the hang of working before I could be useful.  You don't want someone to email you the actual day you go back and expect immediate answers.

LoCarb

Do you have to include a return date? And out of office reason?

I am currently out of the office (on ML) with no access to email.  Please contact Mr. Martin at email for all inquiries.

Virgo17

I never even used the phrase "maternity leave"  I would just put "I am currently out of the office.  Please contact......"

Most of the people I work closely with know that it is extended leave.  I always try to be vague because I could have someone outside of my workplace e-mail me and I want to be careful about sharing too much information, but that's just me.

danieliza1127

Virgo17:

I never even used the phrase "maternity leave"  I would just put "I am currently out of the office.  Please contact......"

Most of the people I work closely with know that it is extended leave.  I always try to be vague because I could have someone outside of my workplace e-mail me and I want to be careful about sharing too much information, but that's just me.

Same here.  I didn't specify that it was maternity leave and I don't think it's necessary to do that.  Just make sure to put an alternate contact person.

When I knew my return date, I logged on remotely and added my return date, but you don't really have to do that.

LJUTCMommy

Virgo17:

I never even used the phrase "maternity leave"  I would just put "I am currently out of the office.  Please contact......"

Most of the people I work closely with know that it is extended leave.  I always try to be vague because I could have someone outside of my workplace e-mail me and I want to be careful about sharing too much information, but that's just me.

I didn't think of that, because it's such a long leave of absence I felt like I needed to give a reason. However, you're right all of the individuals I work with closely will know already. 

olga1311

You can also put the folowing as part of your signature about 2 weeks before you are leaving "please note I will be out on maternity leave (on extended leave) starting 7/19/13.

 

This way people who contact you frequently will know ahead of time and if there are any issues they need you specifically to address they can do that and won't get taken by surprise when they receive a notice of extended leave one morning. I work with clients a lot and my company encourages that.

 

 

Pips09

Virgo17:

I never even used the phrase "maternity leave"  I would just put "I am currently out of the office.  Please contact......"

Most of the people I work closely with know that it is extended leave.  I always try to be vague because I could have someone outside of my workplace e-mail me and I want to be careful about sharing too much information, but that's just me.

This is what I did/would do. People emailing you don't need to know why you are out. They just need to know who else to contact in your absence.

LittleFish1

I would have the dates go July thru Dec ... maybe say something about "in the new year"or "after the December Holidays" since I am sure there will be a back log of emails to catch up upon after your return.

2chatter

I was so done at the end of my pg I think mine said "I am out of the office and will not respond to email or voice mail.  Contact XYZ".  What I wanted to say was "I pushed a third baby out of my vjj and won't be back for four months so leave me the F alone." 

rockychryslerb2010

I had something like this:

 'I am current out of the office on extended leave, with no access to email.  Please contact xyz in my absence'.  

I logged into work about 1-2 weeks out from my return date and updated it to include the date I would be back.

alizabethanne

Im a lurker...

In my office we are required to use the term "extended leave" and also include the contact info of our coverage person. That "extended leave" is left on until we are retrained into our positions following mat leave and we take it off when its just us in our old position again. 

groovygrl

I agree with using extended leave or some sort of verbiage indicating it is not just a short vacation, bc if I am the person on the other end, just saying out of the office can mean anything, even a day or maybe a week and they may need to know hat even if their issue is not "urgent", they won't be getting a reply any time soon and may want to follow up w the contact person you list. I rarely contact ppl about things that are "urgent" but sometimes a reply within a week or two is warranted so it would be nice to know that is not going to happen before waiting two weeks, sending another email or calling and getting the same out of office message.

Deez10

I put the following since I knew what month I would return (didn't know the exact day until roughly 2 weeks before I returned):

"Thank you for your email.  I am currently out of the office on extended leave until January 2012.  During my absence, please direct all inquiries to X at xxx-xxxx or via email (xxx@xxx)."

cltk12

This. No need to say maternity leave or a date for return.

StephanieLove10

olga1311:

You can also put the folowing as part of your signature about 2 weeks before you are leaving "please note I will be out on maternity leave (on extended leave) starting 7/19/13.

This way people who contact you frequently will know ahead of time and if there are any issues they need you specifically to address they can do that and won't get taken by surprise when they receive a notice of extended leave one morning. I work with clients a lot and my company encourages that.

Great idea.

winminpin08

I am not sure why so many people have an issue with saying "maternity leave."  I was more than happy for people to know that is why I was out of the office.  But at the very least I agree you should indicate extended leave because I would definitely assume you would be back in a week or two max if you just said out of the office.