Public holiday OOO messages are the simplest to write — but they are also the easiest to get wrong if you assume everyone observes the same holidays. Your team may be spread across different regions, countries, or faiths. A good public holiday OOO acknowledges the closure, gives a return date, and provides a contact for urgent matters without assuming the sender shares the same holiday.
Key Takeaways
- A public holiday OOO should state the holiday, the closure dates, and who to contact for urgent matters.
- Specify whether the holiday is local or company-wide — colleagues in different regions may not observe the same holidays.
- Use the exact name of the holiday — “We are closed on Monday for the UK bank holiday” is clearer than “We are closed on Monday for the long weekend.”
- UK employees — bank holidays are set by each UK nation (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). Specify which nation’s bank holiday if your team spans the UK.
- US employees — federal holidays are not observed by every employer. Check your company’s holiday calendar before setting your OOO.
- Australian employees — public holidays vary by state and territory. A Good Friday OOO in NSW looks different from one in WA.
Template 1: Single Public Holiday (Clear and Direct)
Use this when the office is closed for one day.
Our office will be closed on [Date] for [Holiday Name]. I'll respond to your email when I return on [Next Working Day].
For urgent enquiries, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 2: Extended Public Holiday Period
For longer closures like Christmas, Easter, or the end-of-year shutdown.
Our office will be closed from [Start Date] to [End Date] for the [Holiday Period] period. I'll have limited email access during this time and will respond to your message when I return on [Return Date].
For urgent matters, please contact [Name] at [email].
Wishing you a wonderful [holiday] season.
Best regards,
[Your Name]Template 3: Regional Public Holiday (Multi-Region Team)
When your location is closed but colleagues in other regions are working.
Our [City/Region] office is closed on [Date] for [Holiday Name]. I'll be out of the office and will respond to your email when I return on [Next Working Day].
If your matter is urgent, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 4: Company-Wide Shutdown
For periods when the entire company is closed — common between Christmas and New Year.
Our company will be closed from [Start Date] to [End Date] for the [Holiday Period] period. I will not have access to email during this time.
All enquiries will be addressed when we return on [Return Date]. Wishing you a happy [holiday].
Best regards,
[Your Name]Template 5: UK Bank Holiday OOO
UK bank holidays vary by nation. Use the specific name (e.g., “Spring Bank Holiday” or “Early May Bank Holiday”).
Our office is closed on [Date] for the [Full Name of Bank Holiday]. I will respond to your email when I return on [Next Working Day].
For urgent matters, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 6: US Federal Holiday OOO
Federal holidays in the US include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. State holidays vary.
Our office is closed on [Date] in observance of [Holiday Name]. I'll respond to your message when I return on [Next Working Day].
For urgent matters, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 7: Australian Public Holiday OOO
Australian public holidays vary significantly by state and territory. Specify your state.
Our [City/State] office is closed on [Date] for [Holiday Name — e.g., Melbourne Cup Day / Queensland Day]. I'll respond to your email when I return on [Next Working Day].
For urgent enquiries, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 8: Religious or Cultural Holiday OOO
Many employees take leave for religious holidays their team may not observe. Your OOO should not assume the sender shares the holiday.
I will be out of the office on [Date] for [Holiday Name] and will respond to your message when I return on [Next Working Day]. For urgent matters, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 9: Floating Holiday OOO
When you are using a floating holiday for a personal observance.
I'm using a floating holiday on [Date] and will be out of the office. I'll respond to your email when I return on [Next Working Day].Template 10: Public Holiday + Annual Leave Combined
When you are extending a public holiday with annual leave.
Our office is closed on [Date] for [Holiday Name]. I'm also taking additional leave on [Additional Dates]. I'll be back in the office on [Return Date].
For urgent matters, please contact [Name] at [email].Template 11: Part-Time or Hybrid Schedule During Holidays
When the office is closed but you work a non-standard schedule.
Our office is closed on [Date] for [Holiday Name]. I work [part-time / compressed hours] and will not be in the office on my usual day off. I'll respond to your message on my next working day.Public Holiday Differences by Country
| Country | Public Holidays Per Year | Key Quirk |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 8 bank holidays (England) | Scotland 9, Northern Ireland 10. The “Christmas Day and Boxing Day” holiday may shift if they fall on weekends. |
| US | 11 federal holidays | Not every employer observes all 11. State holidays add another 0–5 days. |
| AU | 7–13 depending on state/territory | Each state declares its own public holidays. No federal public holiday list. |
| NZ | 11 national public holidays | Includes province-specific anniversary days. |
Public Holiday OOO Etiquette
| Do | Do Not |
|---|---|
| Mention the specific holiday name | Say “long weekend” without specifying the reason |
| Include the return date clearly | Assume the sender observes the same holiday |
| Name a contact for urgent matters | Leave an OOO running after the holiday |
| Set the OOO the day before the holiday | Set it at 9 AM on the holiday morning |
| Disable the OOO on your return | Forget to remove it and confuse your colleagues |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a public holiday OOO if the whole company is closed?
Yes. Even if the entire company is closed, external senders — clients, vendors, candidates — do not know that. An OOO confirms your availability and provides a contact if the matter is urgent enough to reach someone else in the company.
Should I include the holiday name or just the dates?
Including the holiday name helps the sender understand why you are away. “Closed for Thanksgiving” is clearer than “Closed on Thursday and Friday.” For multi-region teams, specifying the holiday also explains why colleagues in other regions may be working.
How early should I set my public holiday OOO?
Set it at the end of the day before the holiday, or the evening before if you work remotely. Setting it too early (days in advance) can confuse colleagues who still need to reach you before the holiday.
What if the holiday falls on a weekend and the office is closed on a weekday?
Use the financial/trading year convention: if the holiday falls on a weekend, the observed holiday (and office closure) is the following Monday or preceding Friday. Clarify in your OOO: “Our office will be closed on Monday [Date] in lieu of [Holiday Name] which falls on Sunday.”
Can I use a public holiday OOO if I am working that day?
No. If you are working on a public holiday — because you are in a different region or industry — do not set an OOO. Only set an OOO when you are genuinely unavailable.
Related Reading
- Out-of-Office Message Examples for Every Situation
- UK Bank Holidays 2026
- Public Holiday Out-of-Office Messages for Teams
- Christmas Shutdown Annual Leave Process
- Leave Handover Checklist
Stop Manually Tracking Public Holidays Across Countries
Leave Balance auto-populates public holidays for every country your team operates in, adjusts leave balances for regional holidays, and shows managers who is out — without you cross-referencing six government websites.