If you wake up in the morning and you don’t feel very well, you may need to ask your boss for a sick day.
However, many of us go to work regardless of the way we feel. Reasons for doing this include:
- We don’t want to let our colleagues down
- We have a heavy workload
- We are worried that we won’t get paid
- We don’t want our employers to think we are weak
But if you are genuinely ill (and not simply avoiding work because you can’t be bothered going in that day), then you should get in touch with your employer.
What to Consider Before Contacting Your Employer
Will I Still Get Paid?
Most companies pay ‘sick leave,’ so you should still get paid, despite having a day (or more) out of work. For your information, these are the paid sick leave laws by state for 2023, so have a read, so you know what your rights are. If in doubt, check your contract for your company’s sick leave policy.
Will I Need a Sick Note?
You shouldn’t be asked for a sick note if you are off work for less than a week. But if you need a longer period away from work, you will likely need to evidence your illness with a sick note from a doctor.
You don’t necessarily need to travel to your doctor, as there is information here on how to get a doctor’s note online.
How Sick Am I?
If your symptoms aren’t severe, you might still be able to go to work. Alternatively, you could work from home if your boss allows it.
But if any of the following apply, it’s probably best to ask for a sick day.
- You are experiencing symptoms of a fever, such as vomiting, sore throat, excessive coughing, and sweating.
- You need a mental health day. If you suffer from mental health symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, then a day off from work could ease some of your symptoms.
- You aren’t able to perform work tasks. If specific symptoms prevent you from doing your job, then there is little point in you going to work. If you experience a muscle injury, for example, you will struggle to carry out tasks that involve heavy lifting.
This list isn’t exhaustive, but chances are, you will know if you need time off work or not because of the way you are feeling.
How to Tell My Boss I Need a Sick Day
Let Them Know as Soon as Possible
If you know you’re too ill to work, don’t procrastinate. Send them an email the night before if you start to experience symptoms early, or let them know in the morning if you know you will struggle to work.
When you do contact your employer, you don’t always have to use the phone. If your company has policies in place on what communication method to use, get in touch using whatever method is the most appropriate. This could be a phone call or email, but then again, you may be able to send a text message or leave a voicemail.
Be Brief
You don’t need to give your boss a full rundown of your illness. Simply let them know you are too unwell to come in, and in one or two sentences, let them know what illness or condition you are suffering from.
If you’re making a phone call, don’t exaggerate your symptoms with a fake cough or sneeze, as your boss might assume you are lying. Just tell it how it is, and hopefully, they will understand.
Example:
Hi, sorry to land this on you, but I think I have the flu. It’s better that I don’t come in today, so I don’t pass the illness to my colleagues. I might need more than a few days off to fully recover, but I will keep you updated on how I am feeling. I will let my team leader know I will be off work so they can pass on my duties to a co-worker.
If you’re sending your boss an email, the following should suffice.
Example:
To: manager@email.com
From: me@email.com
Subject: Feeling unwell
Dear (name of the boss)
I have a high fever this morning, so I will have to take a sick day.
I apologize for the convenience this might cause.
I will keep you posted on how well I am later on today and will be in touch again tomorrow if I am still unwell.
I will let my team leader know I am off so they can delegate my responsibilities.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.
All the best,
Me
These are just a couple of examples, but you get the gist. Be brief, don’t downplay your symptoms, and let them know you will contact another staff member if this is normal procedure.
What Not to Do When You Need a Sick Day
Go to Work Anyway
Your symptoms might get worse if you decide to go to work, despite your illness, so don’t be a martyr! You might also be contagious and make your co-workers sick, which is the last thing your boss needs.
As such, your boss should be willing to give you time off work. If they don’t, you shouldn’t risk your health by going to work. Speak to an employment attorney to know more about your rights, and check out this information for some useful advice.
Tell Your Boss Lies
Don’t lie about your illness. If you later need a sick note and it doesn’t match up with what you have said to your boss, you may lose their trust. You should also avoid lying about an illness just to get an extra day off from work. If your boss finds out you were lying – perhaps because your social media tells a very different story – you could lose your job.
Finally
Make the most of your sick day by doing what you need to do to recover. Hopefully, you will be well again in no time, but if not, keep your boss updated, so they aren’t left in the dark about your illness.
Leave us a comment below if you have any advice on taking sick days for our readers.
