What to Say When You Call In Sick

Calling in sick is an administrative act that people insist on treating as a performance. It is not. You are telling your employer that you are not fit to work today and logging it in the correct place. That is the whole transaction. The most common mistake is over-explaining, because the symptom inventory always makes it sound less true, not more. What your manager actually needs is four things: that you're out, roughly when they'll hear from you next, what's covered, and whether anything needs a decision today. 'I'm ill, taking it as sick leave, handover's in the channel, the only open item is the vendor quote and Priya can make that call, I'll message you tonight about tomorrow' is a complete message. Nothing after it improves it. The second most common mistake is the half-day-that-isn't: logging on from bed, answering four messages badly, and calling that working from home. It helps nobody, it makes the recovery longer, and it means the following day is also compromised. Take the sick day as a sick day. Below are ten honest, mundane things to say when you call in sick, plus twenty short ones in the generator.