Sure, out-of-office messages are fine. But what if they were carols?

LinkedIn found that its members would prefer writing out-of-office emails if they were more fun. So, Cameo helped turn them into carols.

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In an effort to make holiday OOO messages more fun, LinkedIn invited its members to request custom out-of-office messages for the holidays, sung by Cameo carolers.

Sure, out-of-office messages are fine. But what if they were carols?

The short videos feature singers in matching sweaters belting out popular carols with the words altered, like:

The partnership was inspired by member surveys…

… that found some people aren’t very good at taking or announcing time off.

LinkedIn found that 34% of respondents felt anxious about turning on their OOO message. And even while OOO, only 35% were totally off, while others lurked, worked anyhow, or remained available if necessary.

Respondents also said OOO messages would be easier to deal with if they were more fun (49%), if more people used them (36%), or if someone else wrote theirs (15%).

What makes a great OOO is debatable

Alison Green of Ask a Manager called OOO messages the “wild west” because there really isn’t any general consensus on how to use them.

She also shared a collection of atypical OOO messages submitted by readers, which included oversharers, people who weren’t actually away, and a guy who left a snarky OOO after he quit.

However, if you’re stuck on yours, Green does have some tips here. Happy holidays!

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Topics: Holiday Saas

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