Best Practices for Calling in Sick to Work

First, you should adequately call in sick without annoying your boss or letting crucial work pile up.

While you must notify your employer of your illness, you don’t have to share any specifics about your health condition. Most importantly, calling in sick should be a brief yet concerted affair. You don’t want to leave your employer in the dark, so let them know that you’re ill and won’t be able to make it. You should also give them a timeline for how long you plan to be out if you can.

For instance, if you can tell it’s a 24-hour bug, you can mention that you’ll likely (you don’t want to be too sure) be back the next day. If you suspect you have COVID-19, the flu, or something similar, leave room for more days when you call in sick.

Here’s a template you can use for a phone call or a text:

Dear (manager/supervisor),

I woke up very ill with a fever today, and I need to take the day off to rest and recover. I’ll return to work tomorrow if I feel better. I talked to (coworker) and let them know what to do in my absence.

If I’m out for over a few days, I will bring in a doctor’s note when I return.

Thanks,

(Your name)

That covers all the basics: informing your employer, covering your workload, and providing some wiggle room if you don’t feel better the next day.