Keep a bereavement out of office to three facts: you are on bereavement leave, when you expect to be back (or that the date is not set), and who to contact meanwhile. Example: "I'm away on bereavement leave until [date]. For anything urgent, please contact [name] at [email]." You never need to say who died or how.
Updated 2026 · Reviewed and rewritten for clarity
Quick answer
Say "bereavement leave" or "a death in the family", give a return date or say it is not confirmed, and name one colleague who is covering. Leave out details of the loss, apologies and promises to check email. Three copy-paste templates are below.
What to write, by situation
Situation
Line to use
Standard
"I'm on bereavement leave until [date]. For anything urgent, please contact [name] at [email]."
Return date unknown
"I'm away on bereavement leave and will update this reply when I know my return date."
Prefer not to say bereavement
"I'm away for a family matter until [date]."
Teams, Slack or WhatsApp status
"On leave until [date]. Please contact [name] for anything urgent."
Leave out
Who died, the cause, apologies, and "I'll be checking email."
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Hello,
Thank you for your email. I am currently on bereavement leave following a death in the family. I expect to return to the office on [return date], though my timeline may be flexible.
For all matters during my absence, please contact [colleague name] at [colleague email].
For urgent matters by issue type, please go to [yourname].outofofficepro.com.
I appreciate your patience and understanding.
[Your name]
Template 2, Indefinite return
Indefinite
Hello,
I'm currently away on bereavement leave. I'll update this auto-reply when I have a clearer return timeline.
For all matters, please reach [colleague name] at [colleague email]. For urgent issue-type routing, [yourname].outofofficepro.com.
Thank you for your patience.
[Your name]
Template 3, Brief
Brief
On bereavement leave through [return date]. All matters: [colleague], [email]. Urgent: [yourname].outofofficepro.com.
- [Your name]
Privacy guidelines
"Bereavement leave" is enough. You don't owe anyone the relationship or cause of death.
No "passed away peacefully" or other detail. Save that for personal communication, not auto-replies to clients.
"Death in the family" is appropriate if you want to be slightly more specific without naming the relationship.
It's okay if your return date is uncertain. Say so. Update the auto-reply when you know more.
Don't apologize. "Sorry for the inconvenience" is unnecessary. The reader will understand.
Common questions
What do you say in a bereavement out of office?
That you are on bereavement leave, your expected return date (or that it is not set yet), and who to contact while you are away. One or two sentences is enough.
Should I say "death in the family"?
It is optional. "Bereavement leave" already says enough. "A family matter" works if you want more privacy.
Is bereavement leave required by law?
There is no federal law requiring bereavement leave in the U.S.; the Department of Labor treats it as an employer policy. Some states require it, for example California (up to 5 days at employers with 5 or more employees) and Illinois (up to 2 weeks unpaid). Check your employer's policy and your state.
Sources.
U.S. Department of Labor, "Funeral Leave" (FLSA does not require payment for time not worked)
California Civil Rights Department, bereavement leave (Gov. Code 12945.7)
Illinois Department of Labor, Family Bereavement Leave Act
General information, researched from the sources above; not legal, HR or tax advice.
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Out of office message for funeral or bereavement leave
I am out of the office on bereavement leave following a death in the family. For urgent matters, please contact [colleague] at [email]. I will reply when I return, expected [date].
Include
Leave out
That you are on bereavement leave
Details of the loss
An approximate return date
A firm date if you are unsure
A contact for urgent matters
Requests for replies to non-urgent mail
For a bereavement leave email auto reply, shorter is better. You do not owe senders an explanation beyond "bereavement leave." Updated 2026.