10 Reasonable Excuses to Miss Work & How to Tell Your Manager

The death of a loved one, whether they be a family or a friend, is difficult. Taking time off from work and other responsibilities to grieve is understandable. It’s important to give your employer as much advance notice as possible so they can prepare for your absence.

• If you and your family are moving to a different part of town, taking a few days off is natural to get things in order.
• Most understanding managers aren’t going to question the issue too much.
• Follow-up questions mean your boss cares enough to see if things are going well, especially if you called in sick or with a family emergency.
• Whether it’s snow or rain, it’s hard not to feel grateful for the chance to stay home and avoid commute-related stress.
• In such a case, taking time off work until things stabilize is the only option; your boss will understand when you explain it to them.

If your kids kept you up all night and your mental health is going to suffer without some sleep, then you can be honest about that, too. Some might think physical pain or a family emergency is the only valid excuse to take a day off of work. But in reality, there are plenty of reasons that you might call out of work. From a bad cold to https://remotemode.net/ needing a mental health day, it’s OK to take the time you need to rest. A family emergency is one of the best reasons to call out of work because you usually won’t face many follow-up questions and won’t have to go into too much detail. The typical boss will quickly accept this excuse to miss work without much questioning or doubt.

Excuse #24. Public Transportation Issue

Some packages require a signature, so you’ll need to be there to receive them. In my opinion, getting a delivery is a valid excuse to leave work early. Explain to your superiors when they can expect the shipment and have them sign an acceptance form. Keep in mind that she may ask you to arrange for future deliveries to be made to the office so you won’t miss more work.

Your neighbor called – the water pipes “broke” and your basement is flooding. Got to get home ASAP because this is one of the most perfect excuses to get out of work. Just a heads up, if you have a criminal record, you might want to first check up on Do Felons Get Jury Duty valid reasons to miss work before calling your boss with that excuse. We’ve also got our Best Jobs For Introverts, Best Remote Jobs That Pay Well, and even the Best 6 Figure Jobs to help point you in the right direction. The simpler your explanation is, the less chance there is of getting caught.

You’re sick

We can’t control the weather and some are more comfortable driving in various weather-related conditions than others. Sometimes a company will close whenever there is snow or ice in the forecast, but sometimes not. While you don’t want to be a people pleaser, you do need to be polite while asking for the time off you want and need. Before contacting your boss to ask for a day off, think of their personality and how you can best handle the situation. When using a short-notice excuse, you’ll want to weigh your options.

Things like car crashes, injuries, or anything else that requires your immediate attention all fit into this category. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 341,742 times. Keep your excuse brief since too many details might begin to sound fabricated.

Bad idea #10 – I had the wrong schedule

If you’re looking for a great excuse to miss work, “traffic” is always a good one. Excuse #9 – There was a major traffic accident on my route to work and it will take hours to clear the roadways. Scott added that it’s best to use these types of excuses sparingly, wisely, and truthfully. “Some employers will allow you to delay tasks or deadlines if you cannot access WiFi or are not able to complete tasks away from the office,” she said. Smith-Proulx said that a lack of reliable transportation is an excuse she’s heard people use for skipping work.