It’s a tale as old as time, and a feeling that nearly all of us can’t seem to shake: the awkwardness of calling in sick for work.
This should be a simple act that is over and done with in a second, and yet we all seem to riddle ourselves with unnecessary anxiety over making that all-important phone call to our boss when we’re unwell.
A recent study from UK printing experts, instantprint, reveals that, despite the global pandemic, many UK workers are still attempting to power through, refusing to take a sick day when ill. The results informed us that 22% of respondents admitted it would “take a lot” for them to call in sick, with a fifth of respondents admitting they’re calling in less now than in pre-covid times. This is due to workers fearing that they may need to “save” sick days if and when they catch the infectious virus.
But what is sick-day stigma all about and why is it still around today? In this article, we share a few top tips on how to avoid awkwardness when calling in sick.
Give as much notice as possible
The problem with being sick is it catches you off guard, leaving you with little time to give your team any warning. Be sure to contact your manager the second you know you won’t be well enough to work.
Call, don’t text
Texting or emailing in to say you can’t make it to work, can sometimes come across as elusive or insincere. Always notify your manager by phone call to let them know, in a more personal manner, that you won’t be able to work today.
Don’t overshare
First things first, a note about oversharing – don’t do it! Arguably the most awkward part about calling in sick is the details. It can be difficult to know how much to divulge. On the one hand, you want your boss to know you’re telling the truth, therefore you feel obliged to back this up with some information as to what’s wrong. On the other, you don’t want to have to give any unpleasant details of your symptoms. Our advice? Sometimes less is more. Skip the details, your boss only wants to hear 2 things from you when you call in sick:
1) When will you be back in?
2) Can you keep them updated?
Simply say, you’re too unwell to work today, you hope to be back at work tomorrow, but you’ll keep them posted. No further details are required!
Be genuine
Sometimes in our haste to let our line managers know that we are unwell, we feel the need to exaggerate a little. This often has the opposite effect you want it to have, as it can make you come across as less believable and disingenuous. You don’t have to sound as though you are on death’s door to be too ill to work. Simply state that you’re unwell and reassure them you’ll update them on how you’re feeling before the next working day.
Send a handover note
When we call in sick, we often feel guilty about leaving our work unfinished and loose ends untied. Composing a quick handover note that you can email across to the relevant teammates means you can rest easy knowing your colleagues can cover for you in your absence. Just ensure your handover is detailed enough so that your team can pick up from where you left off with ease.
