Out of office voicemail greeting examples (annual leave scripts)
Here are 16 out of office voicemail greeting scripts you can copy and adapt while you are on annual leave or away from the phone. They cover simple away messages, greetings with a clear return date, versions that point callers to an alternative contact, and scripts for maternity or other long leave. Replace the bracketed placeholders with your own details before recording.
What makes a good out of office voicemail greeting?
An out of office greeting protects your reputation while you are away. It reassures callers they have reached the right place, tells them you are not ignoring them, and points them to the next step. The clearer it is, the less likely people are to chase you on holiday.
A strong out of office greeting:
- States plainly that you are away from the office.
- Gives a return date, or at least a rough timeframe.
- Tells callers whether to leave a message or contact a colleague.
- Names an alternative contact for anything urgent, where one exists.
- Stays warm and professional, even if it is just a few sentences.
On holiday or annual leave greetings
Use these when you are simply away from the office and will reply when you are back. They keep things brief and friendly.
"Hello, you have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I am currently out of the office on annual leave. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and I will get back to you on my return."
"Thank you for calling [your name] at [Company name]. I am away from the office at the moment. Leave your details after the tone and I will return your call as soon as I am back at my desk."
"Hi, this is [your name] at [Company name]. I am on leave and not picking up calls right now. Please leave a message with your name and number, and I will be in touch when I return."
"You have come through to [your name] at [Company name]. I am currently out of the office. Pop your name and number in a message and I will call you back as soon as I am back."
Greetings with a return date
Giving a return date manages expectations and cuts down on follow-up calls. Use these when you know exactly when you will be back.
"Hello, you have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I am out of the office until [return date]. Please leave your name, number and a short message, and I will get back to you when I return."
"Thank you for calling [your name] at [Company name]. I am on annual leave and will be back in the office on [return date]. Leave your details after the tone and I will reply as soon as I can after that date."
"Hi, this is [your name] at [Company name]. I am away until [return date]. If you would like me to call you back, please leave your name and number and I will be in touch on my return."
"You have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I am currently out of the office and will return on [return date]. Please leave a message and I will get back to you then. Thank you for your patience."
Greetings with an alternative contact
If anything cannot wait until you are back, point callers to a colleague. Check the colleague is happy to cover before naming them.
"Hello, you have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I am out of the office until [return date]. For anything urgent, please contact [colleague name] on [number]. Otherwise, leave a message and I will reply on my return."
"Thank you for calling [your name] at [Company name]. I am currently away. If your enquiry cannot wait, please call my colleague [colleague name] on [number]. For everything else, leave your details and I will be in touch when I am back."
"Hi, this is [your name] at [Company name]. I am on leave until [return date]. In the meantime, [colleague name] is happy to help and can be reached on [number]. Otherwise, please leave a message and I will return your call on my return."
"You have come through to [your name] at [Company name]. I am away from the office at the moment. For immediate assistance, please contact [colleague name] on [number]. For non-urgent matters, leave a message and I will get back to you when I return."
Maternity and long leave greetings
For a longer absence, it is best to route callers straight to whoever is covering your work rather than to a mailbox you will not be checking. Keep the tone warm.
"Hello, you have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I am currently on maternity leave. While I am away, [colleague name] is looking after my work and can be reached on [number] or by email. Thank you, and please do get in touch with them directly."
"Thank you for calling [your name] at [Company name]. I am away on extended leave and will not be checking messages. For all enquiries, please contact [colleague name] on [number], who will be glad to help. Thank you for understanding."
"Hi, this is [your name] at [Company name]. I am on parental leave until [return date]. In my absence, please contact [colleague name] on [number] for anything you would normally raise with me. They have everything they need to help."
"You have reached [your name] at [Company name]. I am currently on long-term leave. All of my work is being covered by [colleague name], who you can reach on [number]. Please contact them directly and they will be happy to assist."
Frequently asked questions
What should an out of office voicemail greeting say?
It should say you are away, give your return date, and tell callers what to do in the meantime. That usually means either leaving a message for when you are back or contacting a named colleague for anything urgent. A clear return date stops callers wondering when they will hear from you.
Should I include a return date in my annual leave greeting?
Yes, where you can. Saying I am back on [return date] manages expectations and stops people chasing you. If you would rather not give an exact date, you can say I am away until the end of the week and will reply when I return. Anything is better than leaving callers guessing.
Should I give an alternative contact while I am away?
If something genuinely cannot wait until you return, yes. Naming a colleague and their number keeps the caller moving and shares the load. Check the colleague is happy to cover first. If nothing is urgent, it is fine to simply invite a message and reply when you are back.
What should a maternity or long leave greeting say?
Keep it warm but clear. Say you are on leave, give the colleague now covering your work and their contact details, and avoid promising to pick up messages yourself. For long absences it is best to route callers straight to the person covering rather than to a mailbox you will not be checking.
Do I need to change my greeting back when I return?
Yes. An out of office greeting that is still playing weeks after you are back looks unprofessional and confuses callers. Set a reminder for your first day to switch it to your normal greeting, or use a phone system that lets you schedule the dates so it reverts automatically.
Put these scripts to work
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