Posted updated on 16 December 2024.
30-seconds Quick Summary
- Recognise the Importance of Sick Leave: Taking sick leave when unwell is vital for personal health and maintaining productivity.
- Understand Legal Rights: Australian employees are entitled to sick leave, even when working from home.
- Maintain Professional Communication: Inform your employer promptly and professionally when taking sick leave.
- Avoid Working While Ill: Working during illness can hinder recovery and reduce work quality.
- Foster a Supportive Work Environment: Encourage open discussions about health to promote a healthy workplace culture.
As we move through 2024, remote work continues to evolve. Many businesses have embraced hybrid models, blending remote and in-office work. Enhanced collaboration platforms, AI tools, and shifting work cultures have redefined how employees take sick days.
Naturally, calling in sick shouldn’t be a big deal. But the nature of the modern workplace has changed. Working remotely is the way businesses have adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now it’s not so easy with remote workers. With them, there is always the risk of disbelief when taking sick days. That is why a remote worker calling in sick from home needs to know what to say, when to say it and how to say it.
If you are a remote worker looking for the best way to call in sick when working from home, then you might want to read this article to the end. You will get important information that will answer questions about how to take a sick day when you work remotely.
What does a lack of sick days mean for remote workers?
Many companies now incorporate clear policies for remote sick days, recognising the importance of work-life balance and mental health. Flexible sick leave options and mental health support have gained traction, helping remote workers maintain productivity without compromising health.
So what does this lack of sick days mean for remote workers?
A Change in Work Dynamics
The fear of falling behind schedule has kept many remote workers busy with the job even when they fall ill. In most cases, this can cause a bad health situation to get worse and probably result in less work being done in the end. Most employers have decided to adjust their work operations to handle situations like these.
In 2024, many companies offer ‘flexible leave’ or ‘wellbeing days’ as an alternative to traditional sick days. These policies support remote workers’ physical and mental health while maintaining privacy.
This new policy also allows them to keep other personal health matters like medical records and mental health status private. The concept of “personal wellbeing days,” has also improved the working conditions of remote employees. How? It allows them to avoid the fear or ridicule of missing work when they fall ill.
You Get To Take Things Easy
One of the benefits of working from home is having access to a certain level of comfort, which can help when you’re feeling under the weather. Remote work allows you to take short naps or breaks to recuperate when illness begins to affect your productivity. Pushing yourself to work while sick can actually reduce efficiency and lead to burnout, making the situation worse in the long run.
With flexible sick leave policies, such as personal emergency days, you can focus on basic tasks that don’t strain your health. This way, you’re able to maintain some level of efficiency while still prioritising recovery. Taking the time to rest and recover ensures you come back stronger and more valuable to the team, ultimately improving your overall productivity.
Tips for calling in sick for a mental health day
In 2024, mental health days are widely accepted. Many companies provide access to mental health resources like counselling apps or wellness programs, recognising the importance of psychological wellbeing.
Mental health days are important because they offer workers the opportunity to:
- Eliminate stress
- Manage their emotions better
- Relax
- Evaluate situations and get the right perspective
- Rest
With that in mind here are some tips for calling in sick for a mental health day.
Inform Your Boss
Your boss is the person you report to and the last thing you want is to be on their bad side. So, you must let them know once you decide you need a day off. It is important that they know so that they can fill in for you in one way or the other. That way, your boss handles your absence better and the company does not suffer.
Plan What to Say
Choose the right words and rehearse them before going to see your boss about your need to take a break to get your mind right. If you fail to prepare, you will be nervous and you risk losing the chance to get the leave. Ask for the leave as soon as you can.
“I need to take a wellbeing day to recharge and return at full capacity.”
“I’m experiencing flu-like symptoms and will take a day off to recover fully before returning to work.”
Stay Away From Work
Use the mental health day to take control of your mental health. Absence from work, introspection, relaxation, exercise, rest, and quality time with loved ones are some of the ways that you could use such leave. It is a break from work so you should take the time to tune up your mind and keep it healthy.
What to say when you call in sick?
Valid reasons include contagious illness, medical appointments, or family emergencies. What you can say depends on the situation at hand. So let’s look at some of these situations.
When You’re Sick:
“I think I’m coming down with a cold, and I’m worried about making my coworkers sick. I want to take the day off. I should feel better when I wake up. Thanks for your understanding. I hope to work tomorrow.”
When You Have A Doctor’s Appointment:
“I let you know a few months back that I have a doctor’s appointment scheduled for today. So, with your permission, I won’t be coming to work today.
When You Need A Mental Health Day:
“I need to take a personal day to revitalise so I can come back feeling better and more valuable to the team. “
When You Have To Treat Pain
“I have very acute pain in my back, and I would love some time off from the office to treat it.”
Contagious illness
“I am currently exhibiting symptoms of flu, and I would love some time off to take care of myself.”
How to take a sick day as a Remote Worker?
Working while sick helps no one, yet falling sick is inevitable as long as you are made of flesh and blood. So what do you do?
Here are some steps to take if you find yourself under the weather with a pile of work to do:
Communicate Effectively and Promptly
Once you notice that you have an illness communicate the situation to your employer. Follow the established protocol for such situations. Put it in writing if you have to.
Hit The Bull’s Eye
Get straight to the point. No need to explain your medical history or give a detailed diagnosis of the situation. Just ensure that you communicate the steps you would be taking and how it would be affecting your availability. Give your employer an idea of when you expect to be back on your feet and ready to add value to the team.
Be as straightforward as possible so that your boss can draw a contingency plan where necessary.
Keep In Touch
Contact your employers and colleagues once you feel better. It would be best if you kept them updated about your condition. It eliminates any doubts and helps to strengthen your working relationships in the company.
