SFist: Ask SFist: Calling In Sick?

icbalaam

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:57:49 -0800

Luckily I can send emails that read I won't be in the office. No need to come up with an excuse. This morning I wanted to sleep another few hours so I emailed work and went back to bed until 10:30AM. The rest of the day I did fun things like buy $140 worth of alcohol. It's been the best day off ever.

Matt415

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:33:09 -0800

Meant to say: "My -insert relative here- passed away last night."

Matt415

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 17:31:46 -0800

I'm going to stick with an old standby: my passed away last night. I mean, you get up to 4 grandparents, and when those run out, aunts and uncles are next. Only downside is that you can't act be overly chipper at work for about a week. But that's not too hard, because you'll be at work.

jacksevanroo

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:03:11 -0800

Diarrea. It's the only excuse you'll ever need.

TeamAwesome

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:33:51 -0800

say you have a migraine. those are the worst and at least one person in your office get them.

mpantone

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:43:48 -0800

Don't forget to wear sunblock! You don't want to come back from your "illness" tanned.

SFNYgirl

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:20:44 -0800

Resist the impulse to give TMI or lie: simply say "I need to take a sick day," which is not a lie like "I am sick" would be. If your boss persists with "Why?" (which they shouldn't, if they're a good manager), just respond with "It's private" or "I'm not comfortable discussing it with you," which always works whether you're taking a sick day or a "well" day.

megang

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:04:23 -0800

OMG. I'm laughing so hard! RobInSF, that is hilarious and my boss thinks so too. jportillo, very clever! I'm going to try that some time.

jportillo

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:48:42 -0800

Ok, so here's the trick to coming off really sick without having to prove it in person (eww by the way). If you're calling in do it early when no one is in the office, even better if you can do it at some ungodly hour where no healthy person in their right mind is up. With today's tech everything is timestamped. 3-6am seems to work best...best time to email in a sick day too by the way. When you call lay on your back and lean your head over the edge of your bed. Makes you sound different but not forced. The only downside is if you show up the next day you have to act like you're still recovering. At least this is what I hear works...I mean as an HR type person I've never done anything like this.

Shibi

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:23:29 -0800

The "we have to wait for the contractor/roofer/plumber/cable man" story can work, too. Although, I always defer to a bout with food poisoning.

RobInSF

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:23:19 -0800

I eat rancid bacon then head into the office early. Once I puke it all out on the bosses floor he gladly sends me home. A little pepto bismol, a few glasses of water and it's off to Stinson!

cablecarsam

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:21:15 -0800

with the unemployment problem you'd better just show up or you will be out of a job! Then Karma will get you if you say you are sick and the next week you will be. Noone does their job anymore so showing up is half the battle. NOW GET TO WORK SLACKERS!

hillarys_quivering_lip

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:52:45 -0800

MY ANUS IS BLEEDING! they seldom ask for clarification - and donut want me around. I only use it every 6 months or so.

the_absentee

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:50:42 -0800

Agreed. Plus, 'personal business' is way more mysterious than 'food poisoning.'

travin

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:45:02 -0800

there's no reason to lie. you have personal business that requires immediate attention, end of story. With personal business you're under no obligation, legally or ethically, to disclose what that entails.