The Maternal Out-of-Office
RISING INDEX · MM‑INDEX‑2025‑SIG‑004 Signal Admission · Season 01 (2025)
THE MATERNAL OUT-OF-OFFICE — BOUNDARY, NOT APOLOGY
What we’re seeing
Parental-leave OOOs that state dates and coverage—no “sorry,” no “I’ll try to check email.”
Why it matters
Language sets standards. Clean OOOs dignify care, protect rest, and stop the soft leak of “just checking.”
Lineage / Parallel
Union and clinical leave templates, translated for knowledge work.
Lived markers
Two lines · exact dates · named delegate · parent inbox quiet.
Start today (10-minute setup)
- Draft a month before leave.
- Confirm delegate coverage.
- Notify key partners a week prior.
- Block a post-return catch-up window.
Time & tools
5-minute template · coverage list.
Field tests
- Clarity: ≤2 sentences; delegate SLA ≤24h.
- Silence: Parent inbox sends 0 replies.
- Continuity: Threads progress without the parent.
Keep the standard
No “sorry” language • No “I’ll try to check” • Delegates + dates stated clearly
Accessibility / life layers
Add one warm sentence; keep the boundary intact.
Proof ideas
Parent inbox inbound (count) • delegate response time (h) • closure rate during leave (%).
Common pushbacks & replies
- “Clients will be upset.” → “Strong coverage prevents that; the note sets the tone.”
- “It sounds cold.” → “Warm and clear can coexist.”
Adoption criteria (flip to Admitted)
Template used by ≥3 teams in 60 days and off-hours pings ↓ ≥25% to parents.
House note
Inform, don’t atone.
Related: House Ledger
Date: 2025-11-— · Observer/Editor: AB · Geography: [Org] · Status: Observing · Next review: +6–8 weeks
