How do you 'call in sick'?

[ItsBloodyFreezingg]

I'm bored and ill in bed.

I've often wondered what people actually say when they call in sick to work or what an employer expects.

Whenever I have in the past, I've felt like I need to awkwardly explain how ill I am and apologise profusely but really, am I expected to tell my employer what is wrong?

If I have the shits, for example, would you tell them that or is it acceptable to just say 'im sorry, I'm unwell today and won't be in work but will keep you updated'? Does my employer really want to know that I've been up vomiting in the night etc..?

I had a bad experience once in my first job years ago where I had been very unwell and had let them know. Their response was to tell me to get a shower, get some pro plus and they would see me at 9. It's made me very nervous ever since!

What do you say / what would be acceptable to you as an employer?

My current job I text and tell them I won't be in because so and so but we are a small group who work closely together, all go out together(including manager) and aslong as intent one of them it's fine.

How ever in other jobs is had to ethier phone my manager or leave a message and if its d and v i say that.

Basic information is polite and helpful IMO because it lets the employer know when you’ll likely be back (if you know). Eg if I called in sick with a migraine, I could tell my boss I would almost definitely be back the next day. If it was flu or a stomach upset I could also give a decent prediction. Equally if I’m not sure, that’s also helpful information in terms of planning work cover.

As an employer, I’d expect “I’m sorry” but only because it’s social convention. I wouldn’t expect you to actually feel sorry, but it’s polite to say it! Equally I’d be saying “oh you poor thing, is there anything urgent in your diary, is it okay if I get IT to put your out of office on for you, get well soon” while probably what I’d actually be thinking is “oh bugger, how annoying”.

But whatever you do, the main key thing is not to put on a fake sick voice. ESPECIALLY if the illness is something which obviously in no way affects your voice. It’s cringeworthy to hear someone going “I’ve got really bad period cramps” while making their voice artificially husky.

Their response was to tell me to get a shower, get some pro plus and they would see me at 9. It's made me very nervous ever since!

Did you go?

As I text one of them letting them know I won't be in even

Oh, and get well soon OP!

Yes - to give the employer some idea of how long you'll be off.

In that case I'd say "stomach upset - you don't want to know the details of this" or something.
If it were something that had made me take to my bed - then I'd say flu-y-type virus or something.
If I've just been diagnosed with cancer - I'd tell them that.

Gives them an idea whether to say 'sorry to hear that, get some sleep and we'll see you in a couple of days' or to send me flowers and start thinking about how to manage my workload for next few months.

My employer would say something along the lines of 'Sorry to hear that / hope you feel better soon / Is there anything urgent you need me to deal with?'

All the places I have worked the call had to be made by the employee themselves, and you just give a brief explanation of what's wrong. No texts or emails permitted.

I called in sick from a waitressjng job when I felt awful, and was told by my mum that I'd tried to sound too well on the phone (was doubting my fake sick voice abilities). I ended up in hospital with meningitis!

Basic information is polite and helpful IMO because it lets the employer know when you’ll likely be back

I'd not thought of that aspect to be honest but it makes sense!

I'm off currently with a nasty infection and my employer knows about it and is fine so I'm not concerned, just curious more than anything!

Sparklingbrook

Yes! I was a teenager at the time and scared of losing my job (I wouldn't go now!). But it has affected me in the sense that I feel very guilty about it.

That's horrible OP, I can see why as a teenager you would have felt that way.

I line manage several people. I seriously can't stand anyone phoning me to say they have diarrhoea. Have some dignity! An upset stomach would suffice.

I have a number to call when off sick, it's automated so you don't speak to anyone.

Then I text my manager before my start time to let them know I won't be in, and will spend the day resting and give them a call the next day to update on how I am.

If I'm well enough to return the next day I just report myself back at work via the automated system and then do the usual return to work thing with my manager where I'll say what was wrong.

Seems to work well for me.

I very rarely have time off sick so I hope that if/when it's necessary my manager knows I'm not pulling a fast one and I am genuinely ill.

Still doesn't stop me feeling a bit nervous though if I have to make the call!

I text my boss and tell her whats wrong. If I didn't say, she would ask. Perhaps to determine if it was contagious but also just because she's caring. I will also tell her I'll keep her updated so she can get idea of if it's a 24 hr thing or something more, so she can plan accordingly. I also offer to call as calling is company policy but she's very laid back.

I email HR and copy my manager. He is in a different time zone and would not appreciate me calling him in the middle of the night.

We have to call before 7, short reason left on a voicemail. Any later and SALT get twitchy as it's hard to call in a supply that late

Current job - text, email or call is fine. Helpful if you give a brief explanation - cold, stomach upset, operation - because we record it in the absence system. Also so we have an idea how long you might be off, and if we need to make adjustments on your return.

Old company - staff member had to call in and speak to line manager before usual start time. My boss was very cold with my OH when he called in for me ... until he explained i couldn't call myself because I'd been admitted to hospital!

Still doesn't stop me feeling a bit nervous though if I have to make the call!

See why is this?! I feel like this too and my employer is lovely!

I'm in bed with a horrible kidney infection, on antibiotics with a high temp, chills and nausea, having to revisit the GP every other day and I still feel awful about not being there even though my boss has ordered me not to leave my bed!

"Hi [manager] I'm afraid I'm not well enough to come in to work today." -then describe symptoms, mention if doc's appointment booked, say when I think I will be back; agree when to phone with update.

I don't do the 'poorly voice' - even if I genuinely have a sore throat and cough, I try to sound normal.

I've taken absence calls where someone has phoned in with a broken leg or a migraine, and started coughing and croaking. Not because they're faking, just out of habit I think!

My current boss is very laid back and I text or WhatsApp her if I won’t be in. I normally give a brief explanation so she has an idea of how long I might be off (eg a funny tummy may only be a day or two, but flu would be longer). Also we are quite friendly so she has a personal interest that I’m not on my last legs.

In the past I’ve had jobs where I’ve had to physically call in. Had one boss who was a real stickler for it, once I completely lost my voice and couldn’t actually speak - only very strained whispers at a push and it caused me great pain to try. I texted her explaining this and apologised but I would struggle to call in as per the usual policy as I couldn’t speak. She sent me a stroppy text back to say I still needed to call her in the office at 9. So I did, and it was ridiculous - she could barely hear me and I was essentially whispering (if that!) exactly what she already knew.

I personally find it silly when managers are OTT about calling in, adults should be able to decide if they’re ill and shouldn’t need to do a performance on the phone to prove it.

I personally find it silly when managers are OTT about calling in, adults should be able to decide if they’re ill and shouldn’t need to do a performance on the phone to prove it.

I think in some places it's to weedle out the people who aren't sick at all!

Yes it's crazy really. I sound perfectly normal to speak to but I'm certainly not well so I don't see what hearing me on the phone would gain.

We have to phone before 7:30am with a reason for absence and expected date of return (which I always think is daft as how am I meant to know how long I will be ill for!). I then email my line manager with work for my classes before 8am.

I have been off with HG, and on that first day I phoned in sick (after spending a fortnight being pathetic at work) I was so nervous/uncomfortable about explaining the situation.
Stupid really, you can’t help being sick!

I call them as soon as i know I'll be off, if it's too close to the shift i.e starts in a few hours, I'll go in and either work through it till they have cover or get sent home.

I'm a nurse and we're always short staffed as it is so leaving a shift with 2 nurses to 24 patients just isn't safe.

We have to say the reason when we're calling so they know how long we'll roughly be off.

So i give the reason and say how long I'll be off and then apologise profusely because i genuinely feel awful when i have to call in sick, as i know it puts pressure on my colleagues!

I generally say what the problem is, however diarrhoea= stomach bug, you don't need to say anymore than that

We are quite lucky in that we don't need to speak to anyone in particular, just so long as someone in the department knows and is able to tell your manager. So I usually have the luxury of calling a colleague I am good friends with, this makes it easier especially if the issue is something to do with period pains, cystitis etc.