Especially since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many employers know it could be dangerous to keep sick employees in the workplace.
Migraines are a particularly good excuse because they often occur with little warning, and people who suffer from them can have acute episodes up to several times a month. [2] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
You don’t need to mention a lot of symptoms, but be sure to follow your company’s sick policy when you’re informing your supervisor. If you’re using sickness as an excuse to get out of work early, do it in a timely manner and follow the proper protocol from your employment contract. [3] X Research source
If your job requests a doctor’s note or other documentation, this may not be the best excuse to use. Unless the appointment is for a sudden medical issue, this excuse works best if you give advance notice. If you don’t let your boss know about the date of the appointment ahead of time, they are more likely to be annoyed and suspicious.
Using this excuse too often could make your supervisor frustrated and make you seem unreliable, so don’t overdo it.
Since kids get sick pretty often, your employer might expect you to develop a plan for managing them that doesn’t include missing work if you use this excuse frequently. [6] X Research source
Your boss may be more likely to let you step out if you’re a model employee that never really skips or takes off work.
Be careful with overusing this excuse. Your employer won’t believe you if 5 grandparents pass away in 3 months. Some companies have bereavement policies and are required to give you time off if there’s a death in the family.
Employers will expect you to find a solution as quickly as possible, so don’t take too much time off or your boss will think you’re lying or see you as unreliable. While many offices have IT crews available to fix computer problems, they’re great excuses if you work remotely online.
Some employers will ask you to find an alternate way to get to work if your car is in the shop.
Your security alarm doesn’t have to actually trigger if you want to leave work. If your boss asks about it the next day, you can mention it was a false alarm but you’re glad you went home to check anyway. Make sure your employer understands the severity of the issue and why you, specifically, are needed to address the problem.
Client meetings or networking events are also work-related reasons to leave the office. Professional development opportunities or workplace training are ways to get out of your bosses’ sight, but they may ask for proof that you actually attended. Be careful not to skip an event you’re using as an excuse if someone there is likely to notice your absence, or you risk serious trouble.
If you’ve been with the company for a while and suddenly make excuses for religious holidays, your boss may become suspicious that you’re just trying to go home early.
In the majority of U. S. states, employers are legally required to provide their employees time off to vote. [13] X Research source Be warned that employers might ask why you can’t just vote outside of work hours, especially if you live in a state with early voting. In this case, you could reference long lines at polling stations or say you’re afraid your mail-in ballot might not be counted.
Be aware that employers may require you to show proof that you have been summoned for jury duty.
