In an in-person office, anything that prohibits you from coming in to work is generally a reason to call out. This includes feeling unwell, dealing with a sick family member, or having transportation issues. But what about when you work remotely?
There are some instances where it’s still acceptable to call out of work, even if you work from home. Here are a few examples:
Contents
- 1. You’re Sick
- 2. Infected with the Covid-19
- 3. You Need to Take Care of Your Kids
- 4. Personal Problems
- 5. Unexpected Circumstances
- 6. You Need to Attend a Funeral
- 7. You Need a Doctor’s Appointment
- 8. You Need a Mental Health Day
- 9. You Need Maternity Leave
- 10. Your Pet Is Missing or Ill
- 11. Bad Weather Conditions
- 12. You Have a Household Emergency
- 13. You’re Interviewing for Another Job
- 14. Religious Holiday or Event
- 15. Unused Personal Day Off
- 16. Jury Duty
- 17. You’re Moving
- 18. Car Accident
- 19. Car Break Down on the Way to Office
- 20. You’re Going on Vacation
- Final Thought
1. You’re Sick
This is probably the most obvious reason to call out of work, whether you work in an in-person office or remotely.
If you’re feeling sick and you want to call out of work, be sure to let your employer know that you are sick. You may need to provide a doctor’s note. In some cases, your employer may be able to offer you sick leave or allow you to work from home if you can.
Not only will this help you get better faster, but it also prevents you from spreading your illness to your colleagues.
2. Infected with the Covid-19
If you are infected with Covid-19, it’s recommended to stay home. As known to all, Covid-19 spread fast and its symptoms are more serious than the common cold.
So, if you are confirmed with this virus, it’s better for you and your co-workers if you stay at home and rest.
3. You Need to Take Care of Your Kids
If you have kids, there will be times when you need to call out of work to take care of them. This could be for anything from a sick day to a school field trip.
In most cases, your employer should be understanding as most people are sympathetic to the needs of parents.
Children are easy to get headaches if they’re below the age of 5. Most of the time, these headaches go away on their own, but sometimes they can be a sign of something more serious. If your child has a headache that lasts for more than 3 days, it’s best to call out of work and take them to the doctor.
4. Personal Problems
Everyone goes through tough times in their life. If you’re going through a divorce, a death in the family, or some other personal issue, you may need to take some time off from work.
Your employer doesn’t need to know all the details of your personal life, but they should be understanding if you need to take a few days off to deal with your problems.
Sometimes personal business can’t be done during regular business hours. If you need to take some time during the day to take care of these things, you can call out of work.
5. Unexpected Circumstances
Sometimes, unexpected circumstances come up that are out of your control. If you have a death in the family or some other emergency, your employer will likely understand if you need to take a day or two off.
6. You Need to Attend a Funeral
If someone close to you has died, you will likely need to take some time off from work to attend the funeral. Most employers understand that this is a difficult time for their employees and are generally willing to give them the time they need.
7. You Need a Doctor’s Appointment
If you have a doctor’s appointment, you may need to call out of work. Depending on the nature of the appointment, it may not be possible to reschedule.
Of course, you should try to schedule your appointments for after work or on your days off.
8. You Need a Mental Health Day
Sometimes you just need a day to yourself. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, it’s OK to call out of work and take a mental health day. This is especially true if you’ve been working long hours or dealing with a lot of stress at work.
Mental health days are important for maintaining your well-being. If you’re feeling anxious, depressed, or just need a break, don’t hesitate to take one.
9. You Need Maternity Leave
If you’re pregnant and have been working for your current employer for at least 12 months, you’re likely eligible for maternity leave. The length of your leave will depend on the policies of your company, but it’s generally around 12 weeks.
If you’re not planning on taking all of your leave at once, you may be able to stagger it so that you’re still able to work some during your pregnancy. This can be a great way to ease into parenthood and ensure that you’re still able to contribute to your family’s finances.
10. Your Pet Is Missing or Ill
Pets are like family, so it’s only natural that you would want to take care of them if they’re sick or missing. If your pet is ill, you might have to call out of work to take them to the vet. And if your pet goes missing, you’ll definitely have to call out of work so you can search for them.
11. Bad Weather Conditions
If there’s bad weather in your area, such as a snowstorm or hurricane, you may not be able to make it into work. In this case, it’s acceptable to call out of work. Your safety is more important than getting to the office.
12. You Have a Household Emergency
If your power goes out or your water starts leaking, you can’t exactly leave those things unattended. You have to call out of work and take care of the problem. The same goes for a broken window or a clogged toilet.
13. You’re Interviewing for Another Job
You’re planning to change a job and you have already found several good prospects. You attended an interview and you have another one scheduled for next week. But then your boss asks if you can come in for a last-minute meeting. Do you cancel the interview?
Of course not. If you have another job opportunity lined up, you should be focusing on that, not your current job. The best thing you can do is call out of work and use the time to prepare for your next interview. You can directly talk with your employer that you have an interview or just a personal issue that makes you have to call out of work.
14. Religious Holiday or Event
Most employers offer paid time off for nationally recognized holidays. However, if you live in a place or were born with a different culture, you might have days off for events that aren’t recognized by your employer.
For example, if you’re Muslim and live in the United States, you might have to take days off for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. If you’re Jewish and live in Canada, you might have to take days off for Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah.
15. Unused Personal Day Off
Many companies offer employees a certain number of paid days off per year – typically 10 or 15. These are typically referred to as “personal days” or “floating holidays.”
And, while you may not get specific days off like Christmas or Thanksgiving, you can use these personal days for any reason you want. So, if you have one that you haven’t used yet and you really need a day off, go ahead and take it. Just be sure to let your boss know in advance that you’ll be out.
16. Jury Duty
If you’ve been selected for jury duty, you can call out of work. While your employer may not be thrilled about it, they will have to understand. Jury duty is a civic responsibility and you can’t very well do your job and be in court at the same time.
Jury duty is when you are called to serve on a jury for a court case. If you are selected, you will be required to sit through the trial and deliberate with the other jurors to come to a verdict. Depending on the case, this can take days or even weeks.
17. You’re Moving
If you’re moving to a new house or apartment, you may need to take a day or two off from work to get settled in. This is especially true if you’re moving out of state or across the country.
Packing, loading up a moving truck, and driving to your new place can be exhausting, not to mention unpacking everything once you arrive. You may not feel up to going to work the next day (or even the day after that).
18. Car Accident
Car accidents are unexpected and can be very stressful. If you’ve been in a car accident, it’s important to take some time to recover both physically and emotionally.
Calling out of work can help you to do this. You may need to see a doctor or take some time off to rest. Taking some time away from work will also give you the opportunity to deal with any insurance claims or car repairs that need to be made.
19. Car Break Down on the Way to Office
If your car breaks down on the way to work, it can be a frustrating experience. Trying to drive to work in a broken-down car is not only dangerous, but it can also make you late.
Calling out of work is an option in this situation. You can use the time to get your car towed and repaired.
20. You’re Going on Vacation
If you’ve planned a vacation, you also need to call out of work. In fact, your employer will probably be more understanding if you have spent much time on a big project for the company and the turnout is very well.
Of course, you may not be able to take vacation time if your job is particularly busy or if there is no one else who can do your job while you’re gone. But in most cases, you should be able to take a few days off without issue.
Final Thought
There are many reasons why you may need to call out of work. Some of these reasons are unavoidable, while others can be planned for.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to be honest with your employer and to give them as much notice as possible. In most cases, they will be understanding and accommodating.
These are just a few examples of situations where it’s perfectly acceptable to call out of work, even if you work remotely. If you have any questions about whether or not it’s appropriate to call out in your specific situation, be sure to talk to your boss.
