Short version: "I'm out for Labor Day and back on Tuesday, [date]. For anything urgent, please contact [name] at [email]. Happy Labor Day!" Labor Day is a Monday federal holiday, so most offices close Monday and reopen Tuesday. The six templates below cover the long weekend, the Monday only, a full office closure and an early Friday close.
Updated 2026 · Reviewed and rewritten for clarity
A Labor Day out of office should give three things: the days you are out, the day you are back (usually Tuesday), and one contact for anything urgent. Turn it on when you leave on Friday, set it to end Monday night, and keep it to two or three sentences.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What day is Labor Day? | Always a Monday; it is a U.S. federal holiday (5 U.S.C. 6103). |
| Federal offices and mail | Federal offices close and USPS has no regular mail delivery. |
| Banks and markets | It is a Federal Reserve holiday, so most banks close; the NYSE and Nasdaq are closed. |
| When most people are back | Tuesday morning. |
| When to turn the reply on | When you log off Friday; set it to end Monday night. |
'Hi, I'm out from [Friday] through Labor Day Monday. For urgent matters: [backup]. I'll respond Tuesday. Happy Labor Day weekend.'
'Hi, I'm out today for Labor Day. For urgent matters: [backup]. I'll respond tomorrow.'
'Hi, out for Labor Day weekend through [date]. For urgent: [URL]. Otherwise back [date].'
"Thanks for your email. Our office is closed Monday, [date], for Labor Day and reopens Tuesday, [date], at [time]. For an emergency, call [number]. Otherwise we will reply when we are back."
"Hi, I'm signing off early today, [time], for the Labor Day weekend and back Tuesday, [date]. For anything urgent, please contact [name] at [email]."
"Our office is closed for Labor Day and reopens Tuesday, [date], at [time]. For a maintenance emergency (no heat, water leak, lockout), call [emergency number] any time. Everything else will be answered in order when we reopen."
Setting it up: here is how to set up out of office in Outlook and in Gmail, both of which let you schedule the reply before you leave.
That you are out for Labor Day, the day you are back (usually Tuesday), and who to contact for anything urgent. A short "Happy Labor Day" is fine.
When you log off before the weekend. Schedule it to end on Monday night so it is off when you are back Tuesday.
Only the dates matter. "Out Friday through Monday, back Tuesday" is clearer than "out for the long weekend."
General information, researched from the sources above; not legal, HR or tax advice.
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