Plus, not taking the time off when you need it can reduce your job performance, keep you sick longer, and lead to burnout. Some employers are more strict than others, especially if they provide paid sick time off. They may ask you a lot of questions about your illness and even require a doctor’s note attesting to your sickness. This excuse for calling off work is similar to that of a family emergency.
Some might think physical pain or a family emergency is the only valid excuse to take a day off of work. But in reality, there are plenty of reasons that you might call out of work. From a bad cold to needing a mental health day, it’s OK to take the time you need to rest. I am writing to request a personal day off to attend to my mental health. I have been feeling increasingly overwhelmed and need some time to recharge and ensure I can continue to perform at my best.
Personal Marketing Plan eBook
Before long, managers will start to think that you’re unreliable or untrustworthy. You don’t have to go into explicit details about what you’re going through, but don’t skirt around the truth. Migraines are an acceptable excuse to miss work. You can never plan around these debilitating issues, so your only choice is to take things easy and wait for things to pass at home.
If you call out too often, don’t follow call-in procedures, or lie about why you’re out, your job could be at risk. Even if you’re on friendly terms with your manager, don’t joke around when calling out. Even if each reason is real, doing it repeatedly can start to look suspicious.
You were exposed to COVID-19 or another virus.Out of caution, it’s responsible to self-isolate and monitor symptoms. You have a severe migraine or debilitating headache.Working through this kind of pain isn’t productive and could make symptoms worse. When you take care of yourself, you can be fully present at work. That will make, you and your employer, happier in the long run.
You Need to Take Care of Someone in Your Family
Whether it’s a stomach bug, flu, migraine, or COVID symptoms, most bosses would rather you stay home than become Patient Zero in the office pandemic. There are many good excuses to call out of work; poor planning is not one of them. Poor planning is not a quality any boss wants to see in their employee. If you’re going to say that you’re sick, you don’t need to try to cough on the phone or sound miserable.
If you receive an official summons, be sure to promptly notify your employer and provide them with a copy. Your employer should give you the necessary time off to fulfill your civic duty. Prioritizing mental health is synonymous with investing in overall wellbeing, which can actually lead to increased productivity after returning to work.
Sick Child
- Done right, you protect your reputation and avoid tension with your employer.
- “I may be unable to come to work safely today, date, due to the mention weather condition, e.g., heavy snowfall in the forecast.
- However, you have to be smart about it – you can only really take advantage of your sick day leave that way if you’re someone who never gets sick.
- That means if you’re faced with a sudden and unexpected family emergency, it’s completely reasonable to call out.
- Women’s Health and Behavioral Health of New York.
Most employers will understand the need to attend these gatherings, so let your supervisor know as soon as possible that you’ll be away. Remember, there’s a reason why most employers offer both sick days and paid time off (PTO). One accommodates illness, while the other allows you to call out for much more personal reasons. The truth is that there are plenty of valid reasons to stay home or miss work. As long as you’re not taking advantage of company policies, calling out of work should be reframed as a form of self-care.
- For example, your employer might give you a certain number of paid sick days per year, but taking time off because your cat is sick might not qualify.
- However, they may count your personal day or mental health day as one of your sick days.
- Employers will treat this the same as if you were sick.
- Some employers will require a doctor’s note or proof of illness for this to be considered a legit reason to call off work.
- Life can be unpredictable, and family emergencies are no exception.
Avoidable Last-Minute Requests
Jury duty is a responsibility that you can’t avoid, so be sure to ask for time off as soon as you know you need it. If you’re suffering from seasonal allergies, a minor headache, or a mild case of the common cold, you can probably still get things done. However, if an illness is keeping you from being fully engaged or focused on your job, it’s best to take a day off to rest. Remember, even if you could work from the comfort of your bed, that doesn’t mean you’ll be effective. If you work remotely, you may struggle over the decision to call in sick. There’s no option to just stay home since that’s where your office is, regardless of illness.
Your Car Broke Down
As you know, my grandfather has been battling cancer for the past year. I need to take the day off to be with my family. I’m having severe menstrual cramps this morning. I’m lying on the couch and I’m not going to make it into work today. This one may be awkward, but if you’re a female you know that menstrual cramps can be the real deal. And I don’t know anyone who asks questions about this.
Even when your reasons are real, timing affects how they’re perceived. A dentist emergency such as a severe toothache.Oral health issues can be unbearable and need immediate care. Finally, stay in touch with your company as much as possible. If you find out you need more time off than you originally thought, tell them immediately. This will make it clear to your team that you take your job seriously. Illness doesn’t just strike the important people in your life.
Unsafe weather conditions.
I don’t think it’s safe for me to drive into the office today. I was on my way out the reasons to call out door this morning and I noticed a leak in my ceiling. I called a roofer and they’ll be here sometime in the next 3 hours.
