diff --git a/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_leave.py b/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_leave.py
index 7ccea2210b0..4f34666cc7f 100644
--- a/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_leave.py
+++ b/addons/hr_holidays/models/hr_leave.py
@@ -576,6 +576,10 @@ class HolidaysRequest(models.Model):
 
     @api.multi
     def write(self, values):
+        # Allow an employee to always write his own out of office message
+        if len(self) == 1 and values.keys() == {'out_of_office_message'} and self.employee_id.user_id == self.env.user:
+            return super(HolidaysRequest, self.sudo()).write(values)
+
         employee_id = values.get('employee_id', False)
         if not self.env.context.get('leave_fast_create') and values.get('state'):
             self._check_approval_update(values['state'])