HOW TO CALL IN SICK TO WORK: The Complete Guide 2023

Everyone experiences bad days occasionally. You have a stomach bug or cold when you wake up, your symptoms from a chronic illness are acting up, or you just need a day off for your mental health. You and your employer can navigate the workday and allow yourself to recover by being aware of the protocol for reporting sick. Read on to get more information on calling in sick to work excuses, calling in sick due to burnout, and how to call in sick to work at the last minute and professionally.

How To Call in Sick To Work

It’s not your fault that you were or are ill, but depending on the nature of your profession, it’s always possible that your absence will nonetheless negatively affect someone you work with.

To be kind to your supervisor and your coworkers, there are a few things you should do before you formally report for sick leave:

#1. Select the best communication channel.

Learn about the rules or procedures for taking sick days at your company. That entails knowing who to reach out to and how to do so. If you’re unsure, think about how you’d get in touch with your boss in an emergency, whether it be through text, telephone, email, or chat. To effectively explain why you need a sick day and reduce the likelihood that a supervisor will overlook your email or text, a phone call is typically necessary.

#2. Move swiftly

As soon as you feel well enough, inform your boss. A supervisor will have more time to fill your absence if you give them more advance notice. This is crucial since even one day without a crucial team member might put the entire group behind schedule. Giving your employer a warning might reduce the amount of time the firm loses. To give them adequate time, call your supervisor as soon as you become aware of any symptoms.

#3. Update your group.

By keeping your staff informed to lessen the impact of your absence, you may demonstrate accountability and a strong work ethic. Work together with your manager to decide the next course of action; they may ask you to find a replacement or ask someone else to take over your work. Any potential replacement for your work should be made aware of planned meetings and projects, as well as any necessary resources (such as client contact details, documents, notes, or task management connections).

#4. Be truthful

Be honest if you need to spend the day at home to maintain your mental health. Sometimes, especially after finishing a significant job, you might need some downtime to recuperate. You might have personal duties or obligations to attend to. Honesty promotes communication about working circumstances or expectations, which can help prevent future burnout or illness. It also contributes to maintaining the trust you share with your colleagues and supervisors.

#5. Follow-up

Think about whether your company needs any paperwork, such as a doctor’s note, for you to start working again. If you are gone for more than three days, several employers demand verification. When you start working again, check with your employer to see what paperwork you need, whether you need to sign anything for sick time off, and whether you still have any unused sick time or unpaid time off.

#6. Get ready to go back to work

You can go back to work after your illness is over and try to make up for the time you lost. Planning for this procedure before going back to work can be useful so that you are prepared and able to start right away. Before you return, speak with your managers and coworkers to find out what you missed, how to reduce the labor gap, and who should be thanked for taking over for you while you were out sick.

Calling in Sick To Work Excuses

We all have days when we feel the urge to skip work, but what are some credible excuses for calling in sick to work for a last-minute absence? There are a ton of different credible excuses for calling in sick or leaving early from work if you don’t think you can get away with your typical one. We’ve compiled a handy list of plausible excuses for calling in sick to work that will win over your supervisor and secure you a much-needed day off.

#1. Your health isn’t great.

Since illness is unpredictable, calling in sick is a good justification. Keep your explanation of your symptoms vague, whether you’re claiming to have the flu, menstrual pains, allergies, or a stomach virus. Most managers won’t follow up with specific questions; if they do, feel free to make up some gruesome details.

“I had a terrible sore throat and cough when I woke up this morning. I won’t be coming in today because I don’t want to make anyone else ill.
“The temperature change has made my allergies terrible today. I must take the day off today because I can’t control my symptoms.
“I can hardly get off the couch today because I have excruciating menstruation pains. Sadly, I won’t be able to arrive at work this afternoon.

#2. You need to take care of a sick youngster.

Children who are sick are sympathetic, especially if your boss has already met them. Children who are ill require a lot of care. Your employer and coworkers will be grateful that you are not spreading their germs because they are also quite contagious. Use this justification the night before if the person’s “illness” is serious or at the last minute.

“I need to take today off to take care of my son who woke up with a fever this morning.”
“I need to be at home to watch my twins today because they puked all night.”
“I’m unable to attend today. My daughter’s school has a widespread case of strep throat, and it appears that she has also contracted it.

#3. You have an urgent medical appointment.

Although cliché, doctor’s appointments can be effective when utilized sparingly. Bosses could question your sincerity, but they won’t probe too much because medical information is private. If you use this one too frequently, you might eventually have to start supplying doctor’s notes. On the day of your shift or even the day before, utilize this justification.

I need to take tomorrow off since I’ve been trying to obtain an appointment for weeks and a spot just became available.
“I had a high fever when I woke up and had to schedule an urgent appointment to get examined. I apologize for the short notice, but I’m unable to report to work today.
My doctor’s office called, and they rescheduled my appointment for this afternoon. I must, regrettably, leave work early today.

#4. You have a foodborne illness.

Food poisoning is acute and sudden, and everyone is aware of how terrible it is. This is particularly strong just because it’s undetectable and takes only a day to recover—ideal for a midweek getaway! To sell it, make sure you sound like you’re struggling not to vomit when you call in.

Food poisoning has kept me up all night, so I won’t be able to go to work today.
“I believe that I have food poisoning. I have to take today off because I can’t keep anything down.
“Last night, I went out to eat, and I believe I have food poisoning. I won’t be able to get to work today. I’m hoping to feel better by tomorrow.

#5. You recently gave blood.

Blood donation is quite taxing. Additionally, it’s challenging to punish you for performing well! To properly sell the narrative, mention in passing that you’re going to give blood the day before you intend to call in sick to work. When your “appointment” is over, call and say you’re too weak to come in.

“I didn’t anticipate feeling so dizzy after giving. I don’t believe coming in today is a good idea.
I need the day to recover after fainting this morning after giving blood.
I felt quite weak after having my blood drawn, so the nurse suggested I stay in today.

Calling in Sick Due to Burnout

There is no such thing as a perfect attendance award when it comes to your employment. If you have PTO, you should prioritize using it to call in sick when necessary. Your days have earned them. Calling in sick due to burnout can also improve productivity, general health, and burnout.

Depending on the culture of your company, burnout days might be a justification for calling in sick. If your firm doesn’t like the phrase “burnout,” you may substitute “investigating a health issue.” In any case, you shouldn’t put off taking a break until you’re exhausted.

Call in sick to work professionally.

Follow these instructions to properly and professionally call in sick to work when you start to feel ill:

Inform your manager as soon as you can: As soon as you realize you need to take the day off, notify your employer.
Be concise: Do not go into great detail about your ailment or any upcoming doctor’s appointments. Tell them you’re feeling under the weather and won’t be around for the day.
Pick the appropriate communication channel. There may be procedures in place at your workplace for how to inform your supervisor if you become ill. Your boss might prefer a text message, voicemail, voicemail email, or phone call when you’re out sick. The quickest alert approach should be used if you suddenly get unwell.
Get ready to return: Your employer can want proof of your absence, such as a doctor’s letter if you anticipate being absent for several days. Inform your manager and other team members of any information you could have missed and the responsibilities you have to complete when you get back.

How To Call In Sick To Work Last Minute

The best last-minute excuses for calling in sick to work include being ill, having a household issue, or having an urgent appointment.

Since it’s impolite to explain at the last minute when you would have told your supervisor about it days in advance, these justifications typically need to be unpredictable.

Personal illness, a family emergency, doctor’s appointments, child care, mental health issues, the loss of a loved one, and domestic issues are among the finest last-minute justifications for missing work.

One of the best last-minute reasons to skip work is an unexpected event that needs your attention. Therefore, it must be something for which you were unable to give your employer advance notice that you would miss work.

What to Say When You Call in Sick

You want to sound professional and open about your illness when you call in sick to work. Try not to overstate your symptoms and keep your message to a minimum. As an illustration, you might say,

Mary here; hello, Mr. Peterson. I won’t be able to go to work today because I woke up this morning with a fever and a sore throat. I’ll be back at work tomorrow, so if you need anything, call me at home. I’m grateful.

What to Do After Calling in Sick

After you’ve made a sick appointment, think about doing the following extra things:

Be in constant contact with your team. You might need to let other team members know that you won’t be at work, depending on your position. There may be tasks or projects you can complete remotely or that you need to delegate to another staff member.
Send out-of-office messages. In case someone tries to contact you, set an automatic email response message and voicemail message letting them know that you’ll be gone for the day. Just let them know you’ll get back to them as soon as you get to the office.
Clean up your workspace. If you want to get rid of any remaining germs when you’re well enough to go back to work, think about cleaning your desk and workspace. Consider wearing a face mask as well.

How do you call in sick without getting fired?

If you’re dealing with a severe health issue that’s keeping you from working and you’re protected by the FMLA, you can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to recover—and your employer can’t dismiss you as a result.

How many hours before work should I call in sick?

When you need to call out, inform your supervisor as soon as you can before your shift starts. If at all feasible, call your employer at least two hours in advance of your shift so they can make arrangements and prepare for your absence.

Can your boss say no if you call in sick?

Whether they like it or not, bosses shouldn’t usually refuse your request for a sick day. However, it’s interesting to note that businesses are not normally obligated to establish a policy allowing for paid or unpaid time off or sick leave or to grant such time off or leave when asked.

Summary

Sometimes we all need to leave work unexpectedly. You’ll have the best chance of receiving the day off without raising any suspicions or facing any repercussions if you utilize one of the aforementioned justifications and tell your manager concisely and directly that you won’t be able to report to work that day. Call or email your employer as soon as you can to help the process run more smoothly. If you can, avoid waiting until the last minute. Also, keep in mind that you should be prepared for any follow-up inquiries when you see your manager again at work. If your supervisor asks you a few more questions, it doesn’t mean they’re looking into things; it just shows they’re interested and want to make sure everything is okay.