How to Tell Your Boss You Can't Come In

Most people get the reason right and the message wrong. The reason is rarely the problem. The problem is that the message arrives at 06:04, apologises four times, contains no information about who is covering what, and is followed by three more messages over the next hour as the sender remembers additional things to feel guilty about. There is a shape that works, and it is four lines long. Lead with the fact, because the first sentence is the only one guaranteed to be read. One line of why, at whatever level of detail you're comfortable with; 'family thing' is a complete answer and always has been. One line on coverage, naming an actual human who has actually agreed. One line on when you're back. Then stop typing. Send it once, send it early, and resist the urge to soften it into a question. 'Is it okay if I don't come in?' hands the decision to someone who has less information than you do and cannot see your morning. You are informing, politely. Below are ten messages you can send more or less as written, plus twenty structural notes in the generator.