A perfect life would include waking up in the morning with fresh coffee brewed and ready to go.
This is not always true, however, because the real world can be unpredictable. Sometimes, you may need extra sleep or help from a loved one.
You will need to have a plausible excuse for being absent from work in such situations. It would be helpful if you could tell a compelling story that doesn’t raise suspicions or grab attention at work.
Bad excuses for calling in sick can make your manager question you and even lead to you losing your job. We’ve put together a list of reasons to cancel work last minute.
This list contains foolproof excuses that will allow you to leave work at the last minute and not risk getting fired.
16 Reasons to Miss Work on Short Notice
We have compiled a list of excuses for missing work at short notice. These excuses can be used as last-minute excuses. These excuses are acceptable if you carefully use them and have a backup plan to get back to work or delegate tasks.
1. You feel sick
A genuine illness is one of the most valid excuses to leave work. Your employer won’t want you working if you are sick or contagious.
Because you don’t have to answer any additional questions, family emergencies are one of your best reasons to miss work.
Your supervisor should know that you are having family problems and you must be there for them.
People don’t like to be intrusive by asking family members about their problems. It also shows that you are trustworthy and can be relied upon by others.
4. Your Car is having problems
If your car has a flat or your engine stops working, it will make it difficult to get to work. It doesn’t matter if the car isn’t damaged or flat.
Tell your supervisor you are unable to wait for a truck to come or that your car needs repairs. This explanation will not work if you can work remotely or completely from home.
Even if your car isn’t driven to work, car trouble could be severe and cause you to miss at least part of your day.
5. A Problem Has Arisen In Your Home
Regular maintenance on your property is an important reason not to do any work, regardless of whether you have a leaky roof or a broken lock on the front door.
Things will inevitably fall apart. It happens to everyone at one point or another. Employers understand this because they likely have been in similar situations in the past.
Employers will also understand if employees need to cancel work because of a personal emergency.
6. You’re Expecting An Important Delivery
Major deliveries often require someone to be at home. You will need to notify your supervisor that you are going to be delivering a new appliance or furniture during the day.
You may be required to be available to the delivery man for several hours at once, which gives you a great excuse for missing work.
You will need to inform your boss that you are unsure when delivery will occur.
If you work remotely, however, this excuse is not valid. Especially if the recipient is just dropping off the package without assembly.
7. Are you suffering from menstrual cramps?
Hormonal cramps can be very painful for women. On the plus side, menstrual cramps are often a reason to miss work.
This is a great excuse for a brief absence. Your employer will most likely not ask any further questions if you tell them you’re experiencing cramps.
Many women experience painful menstrual cycles. Most companies don’t want to be involved.
8. It’s important to have a mental health day
Take a day off work to improve your mental health. Mental well-being is just as important as physical, and it is essential if you are to be a productive worker.
Even if you can’t completely restore your mental health, it is possible to recharge by spending some time with yourself.
Tell your boss that you would like to have a day off to relax and get ready for work.
9. You are suffering from a toothache
A toothache is the most painful thing. A severe toothache can even stop you from eating and opening your mouth.
You will also be unable to focus fully and your work will be affected. Your boss or manager should know that you have a toothache. Also, let your boss know if you’re going to the dentist.
Given how much pain and suffering you are, it would be a terrible thing for your boss to refuse to let you go. This is a valid excuse to not go to work.
10. You’re Donating Blood
Donating blood is a great way to help patients in crisis, particularly those who have suffered trauma or are undergoing surgery.
Unexpectedly, you may be able to see a blood donation truck is one of the best things about volunteering. People don’t expect people to return to work after giving blood.
You will feel tired and less energetic after donating blood. If you are truly giving Blood, make sure to get a doctor’s certificate.
11. You are observing a religious holiday
If you don’t want to miss work, planning is a good idea. Make sure that the day you are taking off falls on a religious holiday if it is.
It is only natural to want to look as if this holy occasion is being celebrated. Because religion is a part of your personal life, most supervisors won’t ask you questions about it.
You can take the whole day off and do whatever you like.
12. Unexpectedly, an accident of some kind occurred
An accident is one of the best excuses. You could fall and trip, or get into an accident.
This is a great excuse for you to miss work at short notice, regardless of the reason. This is one of the best excuses for missing work.
They will also be sympathetic to your situation which is always a plus.
13. Your Internet Connection is Down
Poor internet connections are a reason to be late for work. When your internet goes down, it can be frustrating and stressful.
Even though you may be able to handle certain tasks offline, or schedule meetings over the telephone, fixing WiFi problems can consume valuable time, especially if there is a need for assistance.
This excuse is solid and can be used on short notice.
14. Visitors from out-of-town are coming to visit
It may be true, or not. However, it is on our list as solid reasons to skip work at short notice. It’s quite simple.
Inform your boss that you’ll have visitors from out of town, who will be only in town for a few hours and won’t be able to see you while you are working.
You may need to show them around or accommodate them in your own home, depending on the arrangement. This could take up to an entire day and cause you to miss work.
15. No one is there to watch over your child
This is another reason for parents with children. If your child is sick or you are unable to care for them, it is okay to miss work.
Your boss should be aware that your childcare provider is not available on the day you want to miss work. You should ensure that no other employees have children attending the same daycare or school as you.
Your cover could be destroyed very quickly.
16. You Have to Make an Appointment for Your Pet Or Are You Suddenly Sick
It is possible that pet parents can be as stressful as parenthood. Pets may require similar attention but they also need medical treatment. This can lead to people missing work, arriving late or leaving early, and could result in them not getting their jobs.
It’s okay to let your boss know if the appointment isn’t urgent. Your boss will be able to understand your feelings, especially if you have a pet at home.
Bad Excuses and Common Mistakes when Calling in sick
We’ve covered all the reasons to be absent from work at short notice. Let’s now look at some of the ones that won’t cut the mustard.
These are the most common excuses for missing work and the biggest mistakes you can make.
1. Use the Same Excuse Over and Over
This is a common error that occurs quite often. If you were able to excuse yourself from missing work because of a personal illness in the past, you might be able to say you are sick when you try to miss work again.
If you use the same excuses or are constantly sick, your boss may become suspicious. If you continue this, your job could be at risk.
2. Going into lengthy explanations
Sometimes, we believe that the most plausible excuses are those that are the most specific. This can make things worse and even backfire.
You don’t want your excuse to be too detailed in order not to forget something you said. If you tell your boss that your mother is having heart surgery, and he asks later about it, you might forget what you said.
Keep the details short and sweet to ensure that your boss has enough information without you giving away too much.
3. Claim You’re stuck in traffic
Car accidents can ruin your plans and be a serious downside to driving to work. However, it is always a good idea to check traffic before you go and to prepare accordingly.
Traffic-related excuses to miss work are terrible. Your car problems are not an excuse if you haven’t been in an accident that has prevented you from getting to work, or left you with injuries.
Traffic is not a valid excuse to not show up for work. This can be a very dangerous excuse and could lead to job security issues.
4. You Sleep In
Everybody wakes up every once in a while and notices that we have slept beyond our alarm. Either you didn’t wake up at the sound of your alarm, or you slept through it.
You will feel tired, drowsy and confused upon waking up. It’s possible to think that you can skip work because you feel tired.
This excuse is terrible. If you don’t have an excuse, get up and get moving!
5. It’s either too nice or too miserable.
You don’t have to go to work just because the weather is good and the sun is shining.
Bad weather is no different. It would be helpful if you tried to still get to work, despite the weather or snow.
Your boss won’t be impressed if you use the weather to excuse yourself. Your boss will not appreciate you taking a day off work to go on a sunny beach vacation.
6. Your Workload Is Making You Feel Overwhelmed
Sometimes, it can be difficult to cope with the stress of a job. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming but you can’t escape the stress.
If you feel overwhelmed or have professional stress, talk to your manager and don’t hide it behind excuses for not going to work.
You could also be accused of using stress to excuse yourself from working, which can reflect badly on your ability to perform your job. You could be fired if your manager suspects you are unable to perform the job.
- Spontaneously using an Excuse You Would Know About Before Time
You will be able to anticipate certain events. These include being called to jury duty and randomly recalling that you have an interview that day.
Your boss might still give you time off but it will not look professional if they don’t know you are going to be absent.
This is what you should keep in mind when thinking of excuses to miss work.
8. Going to an Interview for a Different Job
Your employer shouldn’t know if you have to take a day off to attend another interview.
This will signal to your boss immediately that you are not invested in the company. This could potentially damage your career.
To respect your commitments, schedule interviews for another day or take a sick leave if your work schedule is interfering with the interview date.
You can also return to work if you don’t get a job offer.
Are you able to get fired for calling in sick?
Unwellness is not a good feeling. Perhaps you are suffering from a sore throat or persistent coughing.
You might have food poisoning, and you are unable to eat. You might have a bad case of the common cold or feel ill. It doesn’t matter how you look at things, you can’t go to work today.
Most employees have experienced a similar situation in their careers. It is quite common to take the day off for sick days.
Some employers don’t offer as much sick time as others. If this is the case, you may feel worse if you take a sick day.
What should you do if your supervisor gets angry or irritated at you for calling in sick? Is it OK if no one can cover your shift?
What happens if your supervisor fires you for taking sick leave? Is this legal?
Many states in the United States consider work to be “at-will”.
Sometimes, we all have to quit our jobs last minute for any reason.
You can use one of these excuses to call in sick last minute to inform your boss that you will not be there on that day. If you do, you’ll likely get a day off without being punished.
We mentioned that there are valid reasons to miss work, such as a doctor’s visit, family members needing your assistance, or just not feeling well.
Once you have decided that you require the day off, contact your employer immediately. If possible, do not wait until the last moment to contact your employer. Human resources might ask for a note or email explaining why you are absent.
This information will be used to keep records. Instead, send a short email explaining your reasons for being away. Also, assure your boss that everything will be taken good care of when you return.
After you return to work, be prepared to answer any questions that your boss may have. This doesn’t mean you have to be suspicious.
Your boss will ask you follow-up questions if you call in sick or have a family emergency.
If you’re honest with your boss and have a reason for calling in sick, it shouldn’t be a problem.