We all feel unwell every now and then, which is why all organizations are supposed to set aside a number of sick leave days for employees. However, sometimes we feel nervous about calling in sick to work due to the work culture or our own beliefs. Falling sick is human so you should learn how to inform your office about you needing to take a sick leave.
Read through our guide below to learn how to call in sick to work. If you’re looking for a job or career change, get in touch with us at HiCounselor and speak to one of our helpful mentors. Our job search program is designed to match our clients with suitable jobs.
1. Call Early
You should ideally let your manager know you’ll be taking a sick leave as soon as you realize you’re not going to be able to work. Call in sick to work either the evening before or in the early morning hours of the day. This proactive move assures no one will think you’re slacking off or being insubordinate. If your sickness prevents you from dropping a message early on, mention that during your call and offer a short apology.
2. Ditch the Details
When calling in sick to work, you don’t have to go into the details of your sickness. No one wants to hear details about your stuffy nose or upset stomach. It’s enough to just mention the general sickness, like fever or viral infection. Another reason to not go into the details is because many see that as a sign of someone lying. If you’re not being asked about the details by anyone, there’s no need to provide any.
3. Discuss Important Tasks
If you’re calling in sick to work on a day when you had some deadline or some important tasks to execute, make sure you mention how those can be handled. Either mention a colleague who can handle those tasks in your absence or ask for an extension if it’s something only you can do. Make sure people know where any important files or folders are located so colleagues don’t keep calling you during your sick leave.
4. Discuss Availability
If you’re an important part of your team, there’s a chance your colleagues or manager might need to get in touch with you. When you’re calling in sick to work, do inform your manager about if and when they can contact you. If you think your fever might abate by 3PM, let them know. On the other hand, if you don’t think you’ll be able to take any calls or respond to emails, let them know about that as well.
5. Inform Your Team
Calling in sick to work usually means letting the manager know you’ll be taking a sick leave. However, if possible, do try to let your colleagues know as well. You can send a team-wide email about you needing the day off. If you’re working on any tasks with the team, mention when you’ll be able to do your part. Also mention any information they might need to carry on with their work while you’re on sick leave.
6. Avoid Social Media
It’s so easy to keep mindlessly scrolling through social media and sharing memes or posts. However, many managers think if you’re taking a sick leave, you should be unwell enough to not spend time on social media. Whether you agree or disagree with that notion, try to avoid posting on social media on a day you called in sick to work. This holds especially true when you have colleagues on your contacts list or public settings.
7. Keep Them Updated
If you find yourself feeling well by the evening, let your manager know you’ll be in to work the next day. If you don’t feel better after a day of resting, let your manager know at the earliest that you’re probably going to need one more sick leave to recover completely. If your company requires it, you can attach a doctor’s note or other relevant documentation to prove you’re unwell and must call in sick to work.
We hope this guide helps you to properly call in sick to work! If you’re looking for a different job, you can get in touch with us at HiCounselor and let our robust job search program work for you. While that happens, our mentors will help refine your resume and prepare you for interviews!
HiCounselor has forged technical advances to transform the hiring landscape for job seekers and recruiters alike. Our career accelerator program provides job seekers with coaching and mentorship from industry leaders employed at FAANG companies while recruiters ally with HiCounselor to empower their hiring strategy and hone in on the best candidates. Learn more about HiCounselor here and reach out to us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
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