No manager wants to deal with a sweeping sickness that takes out the entire team. If you know ahead of time that you’re going to need time off, make sure to give your boss as much notice as possible. Dealing with the immediate aftermath of a death (for example, planning or attending a funeral) is a legitimate reason to miss work. And even after the initial fog clears, taking a day off because you’re having a hard or emotional day is also completely reasonable. If you’re a leader, trusting and supporting your employees is one of the most important things you can do. Access to a BetterUp Coach can provide personalized support to navigate challenges, especially the ones that we don’t anticipate.
I called a roofer and they’ll be here sometime in the next 3 hours. I don’t want it to cause more damage, so I’ll need to take the day off so we can get this repaired. At some point, everyone experiences some form of home emergency. These could be major issues like a house fire or flood, or something smaller such as a broken pipe, termites, or a roof leak. I’ve had people call into work with flooded basements, gas leaks, and even because a tree fell on their house.
No manager would criticize his or her team member for babysitter issues, but, let your performance dip, reasons to call out of work and expect some critical reviews soon after. Being hungover is not an acceptable excuse for missing work, not even (or especially not) after a lively company get-together. Of course, overindulging in alcohol can lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Still, calling out of work for this reason comes off as irresponsible and may reflect poorly on you as an employee. Instead, be mindful of your alcohol consumption, especially on nights before workdays.
Valid Excuses To Text For Last-Minute Work Absence
As long as you’re not taking advantage of company policies, calling out of work should be reframed as a form of self-care. When you take the time you need to rest and recover from sickness, you can be more effective, productive, and focused later. Engaging in different types of rest improves well-being, productivity, and focus. Some might think physical pain or a family emergency is the only valid excuse to take a day off of work.
It is best if you are truthful about your excuse to get off from work. Feasible excuses like a sprain or a cough or a medical can suffice. Crazy court cases like your brother sued by his neighbor for putting up a halogen in his garden isn’t the best excuse either to take your day off.
- But if you wake up feeling sick (or you’re at work and suddenly feel unwell), an illness is easily the top legitimate reason to call out of work.
- I’m lying on the couch and I’m not going to make it into work today.
- Maintaining a mindful approach to absences protects your professional reputation and ensures your well-being and job responsibilities are well taken care of.
- Just don’t work too efficiently from your couch, or you may never return to the office!
- Don’t beat yourself up or put yourself down for needing to handle the emergencies in your life – you are only one person doing the best you can, and that’s more than good enough.
- Contact your employer as soon as you detect a problem and find out how quickly the issue can be resolved.
- Jonathan was not aware of this and cited bad weather conditions to skip work.
Other Job Prospects
Cut yourself some slack and remember that you’re one person and can only do so much. If your workplace culture supports healthy work-life integration, the occasional family day can be a godsend rather than a career killer. And if all else fails, don’t be shy about pulling the mental health day card now and then for some much-needed me-time. It’s understandable to feel uncomfortable and unmotivated when you’re not well-rested, but it’s generally not considered one of the valid reasons to miss work. Doing so might give the impression that you’re unreliable and irresponsible.
You’re sick
You don’t have to get into the nitty gritty of your food poisoning to request the day off. Whether it’s a pipe burst or a bedbug infestation, problems with your home can distract you from working. These situations are almost always sudden and disruptive, so you’ll probably have to call out at the last minute to manage the emergency. Calling out of work to prioritize childcare can also help curb the impact of caregiver fatigue. After all, caregivers are burdened with quite a lot of priorities. It’s important to make sure you’re helping your working parents focus their energy on what matters most.
Calling out of work at the last minute happens, and these 10 reasons are perfectly valid reasons to tell your boss you can’t work that day. Make sure you take enough time off to address your circumstances so you can return to work as focused as possible. More often than not, they will understand the situation and will give you the time you need. Calling in to ask for the day off after a traumatic situation doesn’t make you a bad person or a negligent worker – it simply makes you human.
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You may be the only one available who can care for your loved one. It could be an unexpected illness, or you could have to provide more extensive care after surgery. Realistically, it’s anything that doesn’t occur in your everyday life. Maybe you have a class reunion, your child is doing a music performance, or you have a big family event. Each of those examples and more are good excuses for missing some work.
- Looking at your situation with your symptoms in mind may help you decide the right course of action for you and those around you.
- For example, if the flu has been going around in the city lately, catching the flu would be a very believable excuse to miss work.
- Doctor’s appointments are necessary to detect health issues early and manage existing conditions.
- Not every company allows for mental health days, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a valid reason to call out of work.
- Realistically, it’s anything that doesn’t occur in your everyday life.
- Get rid of the Sunday scaries once and for all with these tips on making the most of your week and weekend, taking care of yourself, and improving overall wellness.
A simple text message expressing, “I woke up this morning with a pounding migraine, accompanied by intense dizziness and nausea. It’s been a struggle just to get out of bed, and I’m genuinely concerned that I won’t be able to come into work today,” would be sufficient. In such cases, this explanation serves as a valid reason to miss work, as it is both plausible and urgent. A phone call is one of the most effective methods, as it adds a sense of sincerity and a personal touch. It’s a suitable method to breach the trust gap between you and your employer.
I won’t be able to get in until they reopen tomorrow morning. I’m waiting for my son to bring me a spare set of keys so I can get into my car and get home. You may need a doctor’s note if it becomes excessive, but let’s face it, some kids get sick often. When my daughter went to school, in her first year she was out sick for nearly 30 days. It’s common for kids to get sick often during their first few years of school because their immune systems are still developing and being exposed to new things. I was on my way out the door this morning and I noticed a leak in my ceiling.