Sick Day.
What is the perfect way to call in sick when you are, in fact, not sick?
You can, of course, lie. That requires you get into character, practice your low, raspy voice and say something like:
"Hi Mr. X, I'm.. uh... not feeling very well today... and I think... I just might have to.. uh... take a sick day."
Clearly, unless you are very good at this, you cannot actually talk to Mr. X. You call just before they normally arrive at the office at 7:55 a.m. It also helps to know the right symptoms. But you don't want to overdo it; the message should only last 5-10 seconds. Remember, you're sick. It was all you could do to type in the number.
Telling the truth can sometimes work, but then you have to have a good reason, and a reason that lasts all day. So that's no good.
You can tell the truth by omission of the facts, and say something like:
"Hi, Mr. X. I need to take a sick day today. You can reach me on my cell at XXX-XXXX."
Whether or not you use the low, raspy voice is optional, though recommended, as long as you don't overdo it. And calling at 7:55 is a must. But then of course you have to show gradual signs of improvement over the succeeding days, so your acting skills must be up to par.
Another problem with this approach is that it comes off presumptuous. So do you say "Mrs. X, I would like to take a sick day today?" Would like? That's no good. Saying "Mrs. X, I am going to take a sick day today" is even more presumptuous. It's hard all around.
In my opinion, companies should just abolish the whole notion of "sick" days. Call them what they are: a day off. You get so many days off paid a year. I imagine companies that aren't doing this are afraid employees might take all their alloted sick days for the year if they were simply called "days off".
Newsflash: they already are.
I agree with the abolition of sick days. My father’s company has PTO (paid time off) and its a lump of hours that my company has seperated into personal days, sick time, and vacation. Then he uses it for everything. Simpler in everyway I think.
As far as methods for calling out, I generally just say, “I will not be attending work today. If you need to contact me call xxx.xxx.xxxx.” I never gives details as to why I won’t be in. I personally don’t feel its any of their business. They didn’t always agree with this but quickly changed their opinions after listening to a graphic 25 minute description of my diahhrea.
Posted by: Timothy at March 18, 2005 12:31 PM