Paternity Leave Out of Office Message Templates

Out of office auto-reply templates for paternity leave, from brief notes to full handovers with an alternate contact. Use the variants as-is, edit the placeholders, or download the editable Word doc.

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Editable Word .docx

Length

6 variants · copy-paste

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Short and simple paternity note

Message

Hello, and thank you for your email. I am currently on paternity leave and will be away from work until return date. I will not be checking messages while I am off spending time with my family. If something needs attention before I am back, please contact contact name at contact email, who is happy to help. I will reply to your message as soon as I can once I return to the office. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Best regards, your name.

Shorter version

Thanks for your email. I am on paternity leave until return date and not checking messages. For urgent matters, please contact contact name at contact email. I will reply when I return.

Personalize

Set return date to your genuine first day back so no one expects an early reply.
Keep it brief and warm; a short note is all your senders need.

Download free template

6 ready-to-use variants

1. Short and simple paternity note 2. Detailed note with return date 3. With an alternate contact 4. Client-facing handover 5. Internal team note 6. Extended leave with delegation

Short and simple paternity note

When to use: Use this when you simply want to redirect senders while you are off with family.

Message

Shorter version

Thanks for your email. I am on paternity leave until return date and not checking messages. For urgent matters, please contact contact name at contact email. I will reply when I return.

Personalize

Set return date to your genuine first day back so no one expects an early reply.
Keep it brief and warm; a short note is all your senders need.

Detailed note with return date

When to use: Use this when it helps senders to know who is covering and on which team.

Message

Hello, thank you for reaching out. I am currently on paternity leave and will be out of the office until return date. While I am away I will not be monitoring email, and I will respond to your message after I return. If your request is time-sensitive, please contact contact name at contact email, who is covering for me on the team name. I appreciate your patience and will be in touch as soon as I am back at work and caught up. Kind regards, your name.

Shorter version

I am on paternity leave until return date and away from email. For anything urgent, please contact contact name at contact email on the team name. I will reply once I am back.

Personalize

Build in a buffer before return date so your first day is not pure catch-up.
Name the team name so senders know exactly where their request is going.

With an alternate contact

When to use: Use this when your work divides naturally between two people while you are out.

Message

Thank you for your email. I am on paternity leave and away from work until return date, with no access to my inbox during this time. So you get a fast answer, please reach the right person below. For project and account matters, contact contact name at contact email. For anything else, second contact name at second contact email will be glad to assist. I will go through my inbox and follow up on open items once I am back. Thank you for understanding. Best wishes, your name.

Shorter version

I am on paternity leave until return date. For project matters, contact contact name at contact email; for everything else, second contact name at second contact email. I will reply when I return.

Personalize

Route requests by topic so each sender reaches someone who can help right away.
Check that both contact name and second contact name agreed to cover before you leave.

Client-facing handover

When to use: Use this when your audience is external and wants continuity and warmth.

Message

Hello, and thank you for contacting company name. I am currently on paternity leave and will be away until return date. Your account remains a priority for us while I am out. Please reach my colleague contact name at contact email, who is briefed on your work and can help with whatever you need in the meantime. I will personally check in with you once I return to make sure everything is moving smoothly. Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership. Warm regards, your name.

Shorter version

Thank you for contacting company name. I am on paternity leave until return date. In the meantime, contact name at contact email is briefed and ready to help. I will follow up when I am back.

Personalize

Reassure clients their work continues without promising your own availability.
Confirm contact name is fully briefed before you send clients their way.

Internal team note

When to use: Use this when the audience is internal and needs practical handover detail.

Message

Hi team, thanks for your message. I am on paternity leave and will be offline until return date. While I am out, contact name at contact email is covering my day-to-day tasks and can act on my behalf. For approvals or bigger decisions, please loop in manager name. I will not be checking Slack or email, so please do not hold anything for my input. I will catch up on everything once I am back. Thanks for covering while I am away. See you soon, your name.

Shorter version

I am on paternity leave until return date and fully offline. contact name at contact email is covering; send approvals to manager name. I will catch up when I return.

Personalize

Tell the team clearly not to wait on you so work keeps moving.
Direct approvals to manager name so decisions are not stuck until you are back.

Extended leave with delegation

When to use: Use this when a single contact cannot cover an extended absence.

Message

Hello, and thank you for your email. I am taking an extended paternity leave and will be away from work until return date. My responsibilities have been shared across the team so nothing waits on my return. For everyday questions, please contact contact name at contact email. For anything related to project name, manager name is the right person to reach. I will be fully unplugged while I am away and will work through my inbox gradually once I am back. Thank you for your understanding and for partnering with my colleagues in the meantime. Warm regards, your name.

Shorter version

I am on extended paternity leave until return date. For daily matters, contact contact name at contact email; for project name, reach manager name. I will catch up gradually when I return.

Personalize

Spread coverage across the team so one person is not overloaded.
Plan a gradual return so a longer leave ends calmly, not in a scramble.

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How to use this template

1
Pick the closest variant. Choose based on the situation, not only the channel.
2
Replace every placeholder. If you cannot fill a field, ask one clarifying question first.
3
Save the final version into sem.chat, your CRM, or your help desk so the team stays consistent.
4
Review results weekly. Drop variants that create confusion and improve the ones that work.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use these templates commercially?

Yes. Copy, edit, and use them in your business, client work, CRM, help desk, or sem.chat workspace.

Why are there six variants?

One generic template rarely fits every situation. Six variants give your team practical choices without a messy library.

Should I paste these into sem.chat?

Yes. Save the best variants as canned replies, knowledge base entries, routing rules, or CRM notes so your AI agent and team stay consistent.

How long should a paternity leave out of office be?

Short is best. State that you are on paternity leave, give your return date, and point to a covering contact. There is no need to explain more than that.

Should I mention that I am on paternity leave specifically?

It is your choice. Many people simply say they are on leave. Naming it is perfectly fine and helps set clear expectations, but a general out of office works just as well.

What if my return date might change?

Give your best estimate and add a buffer. If plans shift, update the message. You can also say you are away until further notice if the timing is genuinely uncertain.

Should clients and colleagues get the same message?

Ideally not. Clients want reassurance their work continues, while colleagues need coverage and approval details. A slightly different tone for each audience lands better.

Is it okay to be completely unreachable?

Yes. Saying plainly that you will not check email protects your leave and keeps senders from waiting on a reply. A good covering contact makes this easy.