I have notified my colleagues to ensure minimal disruption to our team. While I’m away, I’ll be available by email and phone in case of any critical matters. That’s why taking time off work to deal with the move is so important. It lets you focus on getting everything packed up and transported without worrying about work. I’ve completed all necessary tasks and informed my colleagues, so things should be okay while I’m away. If anything comes up, I’ll be available via email and phone.

Needing some time to work out childcare issues can also be a good excuse to miss work. Childcare arrangements can be unpredictable and result in unexpected issues. Babysitters get sick and daycare centers experience problems. In such situations, you might need to call out reasons to call off work of work to figure out alternative childcare arrangements. You can use your sick days to get some time off if you have a doctor’s appointment for a physical health checkup.

“I may be unable to come to work safely today, date, due to the mention weather condition, e.g., heavy snowfall in the forecast. But if you think you can use the following reasons to call off work, think again. Dishonesty hurts you in the long run, so keep things above board. Explain your situation and why it’s necessary for you to miss work. Ideally, you’d schedule moving duties outside of work hours. Like school, your military obligations are more important than your job.

Reasons to Call Out Sick

Even if it’s not your fault, showing awareness that your absence might impact the team demonstrates professionalism. A brief note of appreciation or a willingness to catch up can go a long way. However, generic reasons like an absence of mood are a lousy excuse. However, even for the best of us, we have a few days we cannot make it to work. Finding reasons for such days to take a day off may be difficult. If your company has a policy for digital nomads, that’s great!

You’ve got a dental emergency or appointment.

It’s essential to inform your employer about the situation and the expected timeline for resolution. If possible and applicable to your work, you may be able to work remotely while waiting for the issue to be resolved. Significant problems in your home, such as plumbing issues, power outages, or a broken heating system, may require you to stay home to resolve them. These issues can arise unexpectedly and often need immediate attention to prevent further damage and disruption. Cars can break down unexpectedly, or there may be disruptions to public transportation. These situations can cause delays or make it impossible for you to get to work.

• I’m sorry if this causes an inconvenience, but I need to take the day off and take care of this.
• It’s a high-stakes moment that can make or break your chances with a potential employer.
• Most creative professions like content writing, video editing, graphic designing, and others require you to be in the best of your health.
• That’s why this reason for missing work is rarely contested.
• Internet outages can prevent remote workers from completing tasks and may require taking a few hours or even a full day off of work.

Even if you work from home, that doesn’t mean you can be productive when school is unexpectedly closed or your babysitter calls out sick. Needing some time to work out childcare arrangements is a great excuse to call out of work (as long as it’s true, of course). Any good employer will understand that family comes first.

Access to a BetterUp Coach can provide personalized support to navigate challenges, especially the ones that we don’t anticipate. As soon as you know that you won’t be able to work, give your boss a phone call or send them a message. If you wake up at 6 am with a migraine or you’re up with a sick child at 3 am, you can even go ahead and send them an email at this hour. Then, within work hours, it’s a good idea to follow up and confirm the message was received. It would be nice to know when emergencies are going to happen, but that’s not realistic.

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I understand that my absence may cause some inconvenience, and I will do everything possible to minimize any disruption to the team. Most companies have bereavement leaves as a separate section in the leave policy. However, if your company has no such policy, communicate with your HR about your situation and tell them how long you’ll be gone. When you are on leave, you can’t just simply do it without explaining why. This will cause unexplainable resentment if you are found to be lying. Therefore, the reason for the leave should be properly explained.

Can I text instead of calling in sick?

But if you’re in a company that accepts remote work but is ambiguous to nomadism, you might have to plan your journeys accordingly. Most remote-first companies allow their employees to travel while working. You’ll also need a healthy internet connection to make work happen. If you’re one of those who went back to school after starting work, you’ll need a few days off for graduation.

It’s usually on auto-fill by mail, so I don’t typically think about it but I didn’t get my medicine this month and just now realized that I was out. I hope you understand, this could take hours and I have to prioritize my health. I was on my way out the 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. I don’t want it to cause more damage, so I’ll need to take the day off so we can get this repaired. Or maybe you overslept and you don’t want to confess (and yes, sleeping in is not a great reason for missing work or being late).

• There are times when severe weather conditions can make commuting unsafe.
• You can also let your boss know that you’ll need to take a test.
• Calling out of work at the last minute due to sudden childcare issues, like a daycare closure, is generally considered a very understandable reason.
• If you’re unhappy with your job or certain day-to-day aspects, take it up with your manager or HR.

Always keep your employer informed about your condition and provide them with a reasonable timeline for your return based on medical advice. Jury duty is a civic obligation that most people will have to perform at some point. The notice usually comes in advance, but the actual dates can often be unpredictable and fall during work hours. Most employers are understanding about the need for jury duty leave, as it is a legal requirement. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and sometimes you may need to take a day off to take care of your psychological wellbeing.

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. For example, if there’s a fire at your home, you will need to attend to the situation immediately. Notify your employer about the crisis as soon as you can and provide them with an estimate of when you’ll be able to return to work.

How to ask for time off in 7 steps

Other employers don’t really care, and they know that employees use sick day leaves for other reasons. For example, say you’re waiting to see a specialist that has limited availability. If they call you in the morning to say that someone canceled their appointment, you may want to jump at the chance to take that opening. If you don’t, it could be months before you see this doctor. Make sure you communicate clearly with your manager to gain support and the time you need to focus on your health and well-being.

Pet emergencies, such as a missing or injured animal, can arise without warning. Your workplace will most likely be empathetic to the need to search for your pet or to locate emergency care for them. As always, it’s key to let them know as soon as you can what’s happening and how much time you need. Transportation issues, such as car trouble or public transit delays, can prevent employees from reaching work on time. If you find yourself unable to get to work due to a transportation problem, contact your employer immediately. Be prepared to discuss potential solutions, such as finding alternative transportation or doing your work from home.

Keep in mind that you may be asked to provide an update on the situation upon returning to work. The key is to be professional and provide your employer with as much advance notice as possible. Ways to spend a mental health day can include consulting with a therapist, engaging in outdoor activities, or simply taking time to relax. If you work in a specialized field that requires continuing professional education (CPE), this could be a good reason to get out of work.