fb

Surely this is the best “out of office notification” ever?

I recently visited Cardiff for a few days of work. Cardiff is the capital of Wales and one thing you notice as soon as you enter Wales is that the road signs are written in both English and Welsh.

This reminded me of a production error which was reported a while ago which to me must rank as one of the funniest results of an out of office notification.

If used properly the out of office notification is a great tool as it lets the sender of the message know if you’re away for a while and who to contact in your absence.

The error here though involved Swansea Council in Wales who required a road sign saying:

“No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only”

They emailed their in-house translation service with a request for a translation of this phrase into Welsh and a reply came back with:

“Nid wyf yn y swyddfa ar hyn o bryd. Anfonwch unrhyw waith i’w gyfieithu”

They then produced the sign with both the English and Welsh text on it and put it in the required place by the side of the road.

It was a while later that some Welsh speakers noticed the road sign and it turned out that instead of telling drivers of heavy goods vehicles that they couldn’t drive down that particular road the Welsh text on the road sign actually said:

“I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated”

Share this entry

Recent articles

View All Articles
Professionally qualified in one year – DipIFR
Mar 22, 2024
Title
Professionally qualified in one year – DipIFR
Excerpt

Unlocking Opportunities with DipIFR Introduction In the second installment of our series, we shift our focus to the […]

Professionally qualified in one year – CMA (USA)
Mar 21, 2024
Title
Professionally qualified in one year – CMA (USA)
Excerpt

Accelerate Your Career with CMA Certification Series Introduction In our fast-paced world, the demand for highly skilled professionals […]

Lego – building strategy blocks…
Mar 14, 2024
Title
Lego – building strategy blocks…
Excerpt

In the contemporary business environment, characterised by rapid changes and unforeseen challenges, companies across various industries must adapt […]

Weathering the chocolate storm?
Mar 12, 2024
Title
Weathering the chocolate storm?
Excerpt

In today’s interconnected global economy, the ripple effects of local weather phenomena can have far-reaching consequences, extending far […]

Pass the doughnuts…
Mar 12, 2024
Title
Pass the doughnuts…
Excerpt

Does your weight affect the amount of money you earn? That’s an interesting question and researchers from the […]

The Significance of Audit Quality: Lessons from KPMG’s Fines
Mar 06, 2024
Title
The Significance of Audit Quality: Lessons from KPMG’s Fines
Excerpt

In the intricate world of finance and business, the accuracy and integrity of a company’s financial statements stand […]

Insider Trading: A Cautionary Tale from the Oil Industry
Feb 29, 2024
Title
Insider Trading: A Cautionary Tale from the Oil Industry
Excerpt

In the complex world of finance, insider trading remains one of the most controversial and closely watched issues. […]

Lessons from Kraft Heinz’s Sales Decline
Feb 20, 2024
Title
Lessons from Kraft Heinz’s Sales Decline
Excerpt

In the fast-paced world of business, staying ahead of market trends and consumer preferences is paramount. The recent […]