Last min time off work

[lastmindot]

Could you provide examples of valid reasons to take time off work at the last minute? For instance, if you are scheduled to work today, starting at 9 a.m., but need to take the day off unexpectedly. What types of serious emergencies, unforeseen circumstances, or personal matters would be considered valid reasons to request the day off by sending a message to your work or manager?

Illness
Water leak
Gas leak
Death in the family

Are you the manager or looking to get today off.

I manage a team and have been asked for time for mental health (told to take as sick), child unwell (no need to use leave), pet sudden illness and need to do vets (granted and day of compassionate next day as dog was PTS). But really, if someone in my team needs to not work I trust them to manage their time and we also we work from home so for smaller reasons such as deliveries, house emergencies, they can just work around it.

Close relative in hospital
Child sick
Death

Just started my own business and I have a small team of workers.

There’s not an exhaustive list. I think if you know your staff team you’ll know who are genuine. The fact that you’re posting could be indicative that you don’t believe the reason provided for absence.

Illness / dental emergency, sick child, home emergency (leak, fire, break in), family emergency (close family member in life threatening condition), death of close friend / family,

If they've text you I'd expect them to have provided the reason in the message

If it's annual leave, why do they need to give a reason? If the business can cope without them for a day, why do they have to justify it? If the business can't then it'll be a no, but if someone has a clear diary and can pick up on Tuesday, why is it an issue if they have a reason you deem insufficient?

Other types of leave are meant to be taken with no notice - sick, compassionate, emergency childcare etc. presumably that's not what they're asking for though...

Sick pet

Not because your mobile phone was stolen (genuine request for a days leave by one of my team )

That can be devastating though someone like myself more or less have my entire life in my phone (can function without it) is got all the info & things I need for daily life on it
Apple Pay, Uber, diary, work rota, finalist chat & numbers etc so if phone goes missing, it can be completely destabilising until one manages to dig out bank cards etc

Genuinely- why not?

Have just realised that if my mobile phone was stolen I wouldn’t know my line manager’s number to contact her off the top of my head 😂

I should really make a separate list of contact numbers 🤔

We had a new starter once ~ started work on the Thursday, left his backback (Inc phone, passport and work laptop!) in the changing room of his gym that evening and it got stolen 😂🤦‍♀️ He took the Friday off.

If you have a small staff, and there is one person taking too many days off, then you need to have a talk with them. Saying that, sometimes bad things happen in batches, and maybe it will calm down.

This is a very good point! I couldn’t even log into my emails on my laptop because of two factor identification - I need my phone to log in! I think I need to write some phone numbers down and keep them in a safe place…

Car breakdown
Really bad traffic/transport situation
Loads of snow

Monday is the most common day for people to take a sick day.

We were already at capacity for shrinkage and this individual was on a plan for performance and timekeeping. I said she could start late in order to sort what she needed as long as she made the time up later (she didn't but that's a different story)

If you’re asking this, I think it would be for a job interview. I wouldn’t blame them.

If it’s their holiday entitlement I don’t think you get to judge their reasons.

If it’s sick days, then they will have an annual limit before disciplinary steps in.

And one of them has called in sick?

I think it's perfectly ok to judge reasons when it's short notice, won't have been planned for, and comes at potential cost to the business as others have to cover and some work planned for today probably won't get done.

I’d forgotten about two factor authentication! Stolen mobile phone = EXCELLENT reason to be off work for me 🤣

There isn't a definitive list.

What's the actual issue? Are you trying to decide where to draw the line? In which case I'd advise generosity as employees really value a flexible and understanding employer. Or do you have someone who's taking the piss?