Last-minute important deliveries that require a signature can be a valid excuse for calling off work as well. Anonymously rate your current or former employer now to unlock our one-of-a-kind resources. Remember to always notify your boss as soon as possible and follow any established company procedures for reporting absences. Be honest and clear about the reason for your absence and offer to help with any necessary arrangements to ensure your responsibilities are covered during your time away. Don’t miss our guide to why you should play hooky—and 14 things you should do with your time.

When a close family member is severely ill, they may need your care and support. This could require taking them to doctor’s appointments, providing emotional support, or assisting with their care at home. For instance, if you’ve received a notice for jury duty that falls on a workday, you’re required by law to attend.

  • These appointments are important for maintaining both physical and mental health, and they often can’t be scheduled outside of work hours.
  • Whether you’re using your child to cover up a hangover or making up a mechanical problem to delay going to work, remember to use common sense along the way.
  • Inform your manager promptly about your jury duty notice and provide them with the necessary documentation.
  • Self-knowledge is about understanding who you are and what you value, and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses.

But forgetting that you had to go to work or had a shift to attend points, once again, to bad planning. Your best bet, in this case, would be to apologize profusely. If your employers don’t recognize your particular religious holiday, don’t shy away from bringing it up, as it is another valid excuse to call out of work.

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As always, be professional and give your employer as much of a heads up as possible. Zippia+ is an AI-powered career map that enables you to map your future career. InHerSight matches job seekers and companies based on millions of workplace ratings from women.

  • Special occasions don’t come often, so most managers consider this a perfectly acceptable reason to call off work.
  • You can also send them a screenshot of public transit alerts or news articles to show them why you’re not there.
  • When such crises strike, one has no choice but to miss work to deal with the situation.
  • A flat tire, dead battery, accident on the road, or a late train can force you to miss work.

Excuse #16: Illness or death of a pet.

Issues happen, and things that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong no matter what day it is. If you own a house (or rent), you know that household issues are a fairly common occurrence and a great excuse to leave work a few minutes early. They don’t typically warrant any deeper questioning from a boss, either. As a single parent, relying on school and care outside of school hours to mind your child is essential, particularly when you are employed full-time.

Many companies offer a bereavement benefit that allows you to take paid time off for a certain number of days. Check with your HR if you’re unsure if this is a benefit you have. Maybe it’s not an accident, but a flat tire, your car won’t start, or a cracked windshield.

In sum, for individuals and organisations alike, the keylies in balancing callings with fair compensation, realistic expectations, anda commitment to well-being. By doing so, we can create workplaces where effortand enjoyment coexist sustainably—a much healthier approach to living thedream. Rather than just a pay cheque, work is a source of fulfilment, meaning and passion. Research has linked strong callings to improved job satisfaction, heightened engagement and better job performance.

Cole Sperry has been a recruiter and resume writer since 2015, working with tens of thousands of job seekers, and hundreds of employers. Today Cole runs a botique advisory firm consulting with dozens of recruiting firms and is the Managing Editor at OptimCareers.com. Our internet at home is out and I don’t know when it will come back on. I called the internet company and apparently someone hit a cable while doing construction and they’re working on fixing it.

work Excuse #3 Calling in Sick (Family Emergency)

Tell them your car didn’t start in the morning and you are bringing it into the shop. Since you don’t have a method to get to work, you can request to stay home and take the day off. This is one of the best excuses to leave work early if needed or take the entire day off.

The need to take a day off on short notice from work happens to all of us. Life happens, and when it does, we need to take some time to take care of the circumstances that come our way. Instead, if you feel run down and tired from work, chat with your manager about your current workload to see if there’s an opportunity to dial things back. If you still need to take time off, It might be best to let them know a few days ahead so they are adequately staffed. Family emergencies are typically listed as unexpected event or situation that affects the health and safety of direct family members (children, spouse, etc.). Contagious illnesses, such as covid, are almost always an excellent excuse to stay home from work.

Daycare

I wanted to inform you that I am experiencing unexpected car trouble this morning and will not be able to make it to the office today. Calling out of work at the last minute due to sudden childcare issues, like a daycare closure, is generally considered a very understandable reason. There are many reasons you might need a repairman at your home. From time to time, something will break that needs attention. Being able to provide a good excuse in order to stay home during these times, is important.

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For instance, if your dog ingests something harmful and needs emergency care, you would likely need to miss work to attend to this situation. Be sure reasons to call into work to inform your employer about the situation as soon as possible. If your job allows for it, consider working remotely once your pet is stabilized.

We turned to our list of contributors to learn about their tried-and-true best excuses for missing work. After sifting through many responses, we organized 22 into the categories below. Ask for help from co-workers, stay late, or do whatever necessary to catch up. Once caught up, sit down and design a time management plan that ensures future work will get done on time.