Navigating the ‘new normal’ isn’t easy for those on furlough.
Not only can it be a daunting time when it comes to long term career security, but it’s also difficult to step away from work completely without a formal goodbye. Especially if this leaves you without access to work emails or internal systems.
To help you know what to say, here’s our furlough out of office message template – and some tips on how to handle the situation.
Why set your out of office whilst on furlough?
Let’s face it, furloughing isn’t an easy situation for anyone. Particularly when it comes to knowing exactly what to say.
However, letting your contacts know who to reach out to whilst you’re away from work is vital. Not just for maintaining good relationships, but also to help ensure your company runs as smoothly as possible with reduced staff. Something which could pay huge dividends in the long run.
Getting the message right will leave you looking dedicated, proactive and professional, Which will only reflect positively on you as an employee (and as a person).
Furlough: What you need to know
What you should include
Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to know specifics around when you’ll be able to return to work.
But instead of being vague, it’s best to adopt a clear message. Even if it’s light on a few details.
The main thing to cover is who will be picking up your work whilst you’re away, whether it’s a single person or a larger team.
Also, be sure to include a number or email address of someone they can contact if their enquiry is urgent. We recommend checking this with your line manager or HR team first.
Then end the message with a simple sign-off.
Furlough out of office message template
Thanks for your email.
I’m currently away from the office.
Please feel free to reach out to [colleague’s name and position] whilst I’m away, who will be more than happy to help out.
However, if your enquiry is urgent, simply call [company contact number] and someone will get in touch as soon as they can.
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
How to send the right message
Getting the right message out to your contacts whilst you’re furloughed will speak volumes about you and your organisation.
Here are some of our tips to ensure you get it right:
Be clear and concise – There are still a lot of unknowns for some of us around returning to work, which makes it even more vital to ensure your message is clear, and unambiguous. Rather than saying you don’t know when you’ll return, focus on key details (like contact numbers and names). Keep it simple and succinct, and you can’t go wrong.
Let your main contacts know – Your out of office message is great for anyone you may have missed – but it isn’t your only form of comms. You may want to let any contacts you speak to regularly know directly. That way, you can lead the conversation, and your contact can feel like they’ve been kept-in-the-loop. However, it’s also fine not to bring it up, if you don’t feel comfortable doing so. The important thing is to do what’s right for you.
Keep in touch – You aren’t allowed to do work in any way whilst you’re furloughed. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep in touch. Feel free to reach out to colleagues and managers, and keep up to date with your company by checking their social media accounts such as Twitter and LinkedIn.
Be professional – We know furloughing can be frustrating. You may even be feeling some negativity towards your employer. But the Job Retention Scheme was created to support companies who could not maintain their workforce when operations were affected by coronavirus, and so furlough is something many companies feel simply couldn’t be helped. Despite any frustration or uncertainty you feel, it is important to keep all comms professional – and not burn your bridges. That way, if and when you get back to work, there will be no bad blood between you and the business.
#KeepBritainWorking
We’re proud to support the #KeepBritainWorking campaign – which aims to redeploy workers from struggling sectors into in-demand ones.
To find out how you can get involved, visit keepbritainworking.com now.
Together we can help preserve jobs and protect livelihoods. Together, we can Keep Britain Working.
Need a new start? View all available jobs now.
