Proper Procedure for Calling in Sick
Its 7 A.M. the alarm goes off and you realize you feel horrible! You are supposed to be at work for 9 A.M., what happens next?
First you must decide if you are going to call in sick. If you answer yes to any of the following, call in sick. Your employer and fellow coworkers will appreciate your choice:
- If you are sick enough to see a doctor
- If you are contagious
- If your illness causes you to be unproductive
Policies vary from business to business. You should always follow procedures set forth by your employer’s business/departments; however, there are steps that should be followed out of professional courtesy no matter where you work.
- The employee should make the call, not a family member or friend.
- If you are expected to be at your desk at 9 A.M don’t wait until 9:01 A.M. to call!
- Make it a point to contact your supervisor. If this is not possible then leave a message with his/her administrative assistant.
If you are unable to reach your supervisor or their assistant then leave a message with the receptionist. If another contact is being used for calling in sick the receptionist will know and pass this information on to you for next time. After you have explained to your supervisor why you are calling in sick, remind him/ her of any daily responsibilities that you take care of that will have to be done by a co-worker. You may want to suggest someone at this point if it will only be for the day.
Many businesses require an employee to have a doctor’s note to return to work and to verify sick time. If you have gone to the doctor and are aware that you will be out for more than a day you should call your supervisor again so that arrangements for a temp can be made if necessary.
To make your life easier during these stressful moments you should keep the following information near your telephone:
- Your supervisor’s name and contact numbers
- Who would you speak to in the event your supervisor is out
- A list of your daily office tasks that must be completed during a regular business day
- The name of any co-worker who is aware of your job duties