ATLANTA HEALTH NEWS

Need to call in sick? Here are the Do's and Don'ts


Los Angeles Times
Published on: 07/10/08

Need to call in sick? There are right and wrong ways to let your boss know you're a no-show. Most people instinctively know the best way to communicate with their particular supervisor and workplace. But if your illness has caused a sudden loss of common sense, follow these tips compiled from human resources experts and other sources.

Do speak to your supervisor directly, if possible. Sending an e-mail is a tip-off of possible fakery.

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Don't attempt to fake sounding ill by using the old tricks: speaking on the phone while lying in bed or bent over the toilet. Remember, if you were an actor, you'd have a SAG card.

Do call in as early in the day as possible to give your supervisor time to plan the day without you.

Don't give your supervisor all the gory details of your illness, pain and suffering. It smacks of exaggeration. Make the call short and to the point.

Do make the call yourself.

Don't have your spouse, child or — worse — mother make the call for you unless you are hospitalized and intubated. Be a grown-up.

Do apologize for the inconvenience to your employer.

Don't call from a baseball game, bar, airport or other questionable venue.

Do call in sick when you're feeling miserable, need to see a doctor, are contagious or can't think straight.

Don't go to work looking like a walking carcass.

Do get a doctor's note if your illness requires medical treatment and a specified length of time off.

Don't use "feminine problems" as an excuse — especially if you're not a woman.

Do use sunscreen if you take a sick day to go to the beach.

Don't tell your boss you'll try to be there after lunch. It won't happen.

Do know how your supervisor feels about employees taking sick days.

Don't call in sick on too many Mondays or Fridays. It will damage your credibility.

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Comments

By THATwoman

Jul 14, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

In the past I've had to call in sick because of my monthly "feminine issue." For the poster who says it shouldn't be an issue, you are either extremely lucky or a pain warrior. But I would vomit, faint and suffer through excruciating abdominal pain and nonstop diahrrea. Did I mention the blinding headaches and fever? This was EVERY MONTH without letup. The only thing that helped was narcotic pain relievers, which rendered me a drooling idiot for the rest of the day. A hysterectomy was the best solution, but that only came after I gave birth and felt like I truly would not regret giving up a reproductive organ. Soooooo, please don't make it sound like we sit at home eating bonbons and watching soap operas. I wish.

By catlady

Jul 12, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

You also cannot call in if you are in labor, ICU or have laryngitis.

Don't call in as your spouse has sex with you.

By theIrishKitty

Jul 11, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this

I really must protest not having someone else call in. Ever experience a true migraine? The kind where breathing makes your head hurt? The kind where all you can do is curl up with a pillow over your head and pray you don't suffocate because the noise would be too painful?
I get those about once every 3 months. I have NO CHOICE but to have someone else call in for me. If I had to, I'd be dead before the second ring.

By Jonny Rocket

Jul 11, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this

"Older" Management needs to come to terms with the fact that its 2008 unless youre at a hospital taking a day of for any reason should not be a big deal, this holds especially true for office based positions. If being a man short is going to cause you to miss a deadline then you need to hire more and plan accordingly, dont work your team on skeleton to push profit percent. Or if that person being out means that you dont make as much $ that day then you are too greedy. This is not 1950's or a manufacturing based country anymore the old "be lucky you have a job" is crap spout out from an uneducated generation where having any skills other than learned on the job was rare. Companies need to remember that people are people not tools and to treat them as such. People get sick, people can feel crappy, people get stressed out and need a moment away to get centered. As long as they dont abuse it, it shouldnt be a sin to take a day off.

By Randomarrow

Jul 11, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Sevens, it's a joke. Thanks for taking the bait hook, line and sinker!

By Bilbo Baggins

Jul 11, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

According to this article, it almost seems like employees would be reporting to the gestapo. If you have to put up with all these Nazi rules, you should just ******* quit. I'm not much of a feminist, but if a woman can't take a day off for "feminine issues," then she should find a job where she'll be treated with a modicum of respect. Thanks for a stupid ******** article. Hello, this isn't the 1950's anymore. Good Gawd.

By Dr. Han Solo

Jul 11, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

I had to call out once due to hibernation sickness LooL361

By Chris R.

Jul 11, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

What about when your sick and you have no choice but to come into work "looking like a walking carcass"???

I had to work for a week with pneumonia becuase I didn't have enough vacation time accumulated yet to take a day off to see the doctor.

Our health care system sucks and you are forced to be a walking carcass way too often!

By Dexter

Jul 11, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

I work in a hospital and we are retaliated against if we call in sick.

By JOLANKA

Jul 11, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

I WILL REMEMBER TO USE SUNSCREEN THE NEXT TIME I CALL IN AND GO TO THE BEACH!

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