Buzz
Everyone occasionally feels the need for a break, but what are the valid reasons to request time off with a brief notice? If you're concerned that your usual excuses won't impress your boss, don't worry—there are plenty of other convincing reasons you can use to take a last-minute day off or leave early. We've compiled a list of 20 reasons that can win your boss's sympathy, ensuring you get the time off you want. If you're ready for a midweek break at home, keep reading below!
Things You Need to Know
- Simply notify your boss that you're feeling unwell. If needed, you can mention a headache, the flu, food poisoning, or back pain.
- Tell your boss you have an urgent doctor's appointment, whether it's for yourself or for someone else, like your child, spouse, or even a pet.
- If you'd rather avoid health-related excuses, you can say that your car broke down.
Steps
You feel unwell
No one can predict when they'll fall ill, making this a reliable excuse. Whether you claim to have the flu, an upset stomach, allergies, or a stomach ache, you can tell a vague story. Usually, bosses won’t ask for too many details, but if they do, just come up with some symptoms on the spot.
- “I woke up with a sore throat and I’ve been coughing a lot. I don’t want to spread the illness, so I won’t be coming to work today.”
- “I’m having a severe allergic reaction from the weather change, and the symptoms won’t go away, so I need to take a sick day today.”
- “I have such a bad stomach ache that I can't get out of bed. I won’t be able to come to work this afternoon.”
You need to take care of a sick child
Sick children usually earn sympathy, especially if your boss has met your kids before. Caring for a sick child takes a lot of attention. Many illnesses are contagious, so your boss and coworkers will appreciate your effort not to spread it. You can use this excuse last minute, even the night before, if your child is seriously ill.
- “My son has a fever this morning, so I need to take the day off to care for him.”
- “My twin kids have been vomiting all night. I need to stay home to monitor them.”
- “I can’t come in today. There’s an outbreak of strep throat at my child’s school, and I think my child might have caught it.”
You have a last-minute doctor’s appointment
Doctor appointments may seem like a worn-out excuse, but if you rarely use it, it can still be quite effective. Your boss may not know if you're being truthful, but they won’t ask too many questions because it’s private information. Be careful not to overuse this excuse, as you might eventually need to provide a doctor's note. You can use this excuse on a workday or give a day’s notice.
- “I’ve been trying to book a doctor’s appointment for weeks, and tomorrow is the only available time, so I need to take the day off.”
- “I woke up with a high fever and had to make a last-minute appointment with the doctor. I’m sorry for the late notice, but I won’t be able to come to work today.”
- “The clinic called and rescheduled my appointment for this afternoon, so I’ll need to leave early today.”
You have food poisoning
Food poisoning strikes suddenly and violently, and everyone knows how terrible it is. This excuse is effective because there’s no lasting trace, and you only need a day to recover—perfect for a midweek break! Remember to pretend you're trying to hold back nausea when you call, making the story sound convincing.
- “I couldn’t sleep all night because of food poisoning, so I won’t be able to come in today.”
- “I think I have food poisoning. I’ve been throwing up non-stop, so I need to take the day off.”
- “I ate out last night, and I think I got food poisoning. I won’t be able to make it to the office today, but I hope to feel better by tomorrow.”
You need urgent dental treatment or have a dental appointment
A broken tooth is a great excuse to request time off at the last minute. Dental emergencies are usually easily understood, so keep the explanation short. When you’re experiencing severe tooth pain, it’s hard to focus on work, and dental appointments are difficult to rearrange, so your boss will likely understand you need the day off.
- “I broke a tooth while eating breakfast and need to see the dentist urgently.”
- “The dental office canceled my appointment the other day and rescheduled it for today, so I won’t be able to make it to work.”
- “I just tripped and broke a tooth. I need to undergo emergency dental surgery, so I’ll have to take the day off.”
You have a migraine
Migraines can be incredibly intense and make it impossible to work effectively. Migraines are quite common and often receive sympathy from others. You can tell your boss or manager that you’re unable to work due to this (pretend) migraine — they’ll likely understand and give you the day off.
- “I’m having a terrible migraine today, so I won’t be able to come to work. I’d like to take the day off.”
- “I have a migraine so severe today that even looking at the computer screen hurts. I need to take the day off to rest.”
- “I can’t make it to work tonight. I’ve been suffering from a horrible headache all day and it hasn’t improved yet.”
You’ve had a minor accident or injury
Accidents can happen to anyone. Even a minor injury can affect your ability to work. Common and believable accidents include tripping, spraining an ankle, cutting yourself, or knee injuries. If you need to meet with your boss later, make up a minor injury that heals quickly or isn’t visible (like a muscle strain). Excuses such as needing stitches or a cast work better when you're working remotely.
- “I stepped on my son’s Lego spaceship and twisted my ankle. I’m limping and need to take the day off to recover.”
- “I sprained my ankle while running last night, and it’s swollen and painful today. I need to see a doctor, so I won’t be able to come to work today.”
- “I broke a plate this morning and cut my hand. I need to get stitches, so I won’t be able to work today.”
You have back muscle strain
There’s little more frustrating than a backache. Anyone can use this excuse, as back pain can make it impossible to do anything from sitting at a desk to performing manual labor. If your manager knows you work out a lot or lift heavy things at home, you can pretend to have back pain.
- “I did a gym session this morning, and now my back hurts so badly I can barely move.”
- “Yesterday I strained my back while moving some equipment to renovate the kitchen.”
- “Yesterday I had to help my daughter move into her dorm, carrying several heavy boxes, and now my back is killing me. I need a day off to recover.”
You need to see a therapist
Mental health is a private matter, so understanding bosses will have no issue with this excuse. You can mention that you’re stressed about an upcoming event in your life or that you’re unable to concentrate and need some time to take care of yourself. Gauge your boss’s attitude—someone younger and more empathetic will likely be more accepting of this reason.
- “I’ve been under a lot of stress with wedding preparations for next week. I need a day off to ease the tension.”
- This week has been incredibly stressful. I’m requesting a day off to reset.”
- I don’t want to go into details, but I’m emotionally overwhelmed and need to take today off to regroup.”
You’ve been exposed to Covid
In today’s world, Covid is a perfectly legitimate excuse to take a few days off at home. The virus is highly contagious, and most people need to quarantine for a few days and confirm they’re not infected. Make up a plausible story explaining how you were exposed and give an expected timeline for your return to work.
- “I just found out that I was exposed to Covid at a family gathering yesterday. I don’t have any symptoms yet, but I need to take time off until I get a negative test result.”
- “Last night, I had close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid. I need to stay home today to quarantine.”
- I’ve recently been exposed to Covid. My rapid test came back negative, but I can’t come in today because I’m waiting for the results of the PCR test.”
- Check your company’s Covid policy before using this excuse, as they may require a quarantine of several days or weeks.
You just donated blood
People can feel extremely fatigued after donating blood. Additionally, it's hard to be penalized after doing such a good deed! You can casually mention that you were planning to donate blood the day before your day off, to make your excuse sound more believable. After ‘donating blood,’ you can call your boss and say you’re feeling dizzy and unable to go to work.
- “I didn’t realize I’d feel so dizzy after donating blood. I don’t think I should go to work today.”
- “I fainted after donating blood this morning and need a day off to recover.”
- The nurse who took my blood told me I should rest today because I feel weak after donating.”
You need to take your pet to the vet urgently
Cute pets can easily evoke sympathy from your boss or manager. They’ll understand that taking care of animals is a big responsibility. You can even show your boss a few cute pictures of your pets at work to soften their heart—they’ll be more concerned if they’ve seen them before.
- “My cat hasn’t eaten anything, and I’m worried it’s sick. I need to take it to the vet immediately.”
- “My dog ate something from the trash and is vomiting a lot. I need to stay home today to keep an eye on him.”
- “My dog chased a raccoon during our walk this morning and got scratched and bitten. I’m worried it could get infected, so I have to take him to the vet urgently.”
Your family has an urgent matter
Family emergencies are an effective reason to request time off because they are vague and personal. Most bosses won’t press you for details, as these situations are often quite sensitive, but it’s wise to have a ready explanation. Almost any unexpected family event can be seen as urgent. Here are a few excuses to consider:
- “My father had an accident this morning and needs emergency surgery. I need to be at the hospital with him, so I can’t come to work.”
- “My grandmother just called, and she sounded very weak. I need to visit her today, so I won’t be able to work.”
- “There’s an urgent family matter today, and I need to head out of town. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I need the day off.”
You can’t find a babysitter
It’s difficult to find childcare when the daycare or babysitter cancels unexpectedly. You can use this excuse if you have young children. Your boss can’t easily check if you’re lying, and if they also have kids, they’ll likely sympathize with you.
- “My babysitter suddenly got sick, and I can’t find anyone else to watch my child.”
- “The school is letting out early today, so I need to pick up my child. I’ll need to leave early today.”
- “My child’s daycare is on lockdown due to Covid exposure, and I couldn’t find anyone to look after them.”
You have guests visiting from out of town
Unexpected visits from friends or family are a valid excuse for taking a day off. Explain that you need to host and entertain them, or that you have to pick them up from the airport during work hours. Emphasize that the situation is urgent, or your boss might ask why you didn’t mention it sooner.
- “My mom is visiting tomorrow as a surprise. I haven’t seen her since the pandemic, so I need to take the day off.”
- “My brother is flying into town on short notice. I need to pick him up from the airport.”
- “My sister is required to be a witness in court tomorrow, so I need to watch her kids for the day. I need to take the day off.”
You need to deal with a household issue
Most people understand that household emergencies can happen at any time. Power outages, flooding, or fallen trees are all valid reasons to take a day off to address these issues. Your boss will likely understand how troublesome the situation is and grant you the time off.
- “My ground floor got completely flooded after the storm last night. I need to stay home to clean up and call for repairs.”
- “The gate at my house is loose, and the repairman can only come during my work hours today, so I need to take the day off.”
- “A pipe burst in my kitchen. I have to call a plumber urgently, so I can’t come to work today.”
You’re waiting for an important delivery
If a delivery is left outside and nobody’s around to receive it, it could easily get lost. If you’re “waiting” for something valuable like furniture, electronics, or an heirloom, you’ll want to be home to receive the package (especially if you need to sign for it or be present for assembly). This excuse is more effective if you inform your boss in advance.
- “I’m expecting a new oven to be delivered tomorrow and set up, so I need to take the day off to receive the delivery.”
- “I need to stay home tomorrow to sign for an important package a relative sent. The package could arrive anytime during the day, so I can’t come to work.”
- “I ordered a sofa, and it arrived earlier than expected, so I need to take tomorrow afternoon off to be home for the delivery.”
You’re having car trouble
If you have to drive to work, this is a reasonable excuse to take a day off. Most people understand that car troubles can happen anytime, so it's fine to be a bit vague. However, this excuse may not work as well in big cities with lots of public transport options.
- “My car won’t start. I haven’t figured out the problem yet, so I don’t know how to get it running.”
- “I got a flat tire on my way to work this morning. I need to get the tire replaced, so I won’t be able to make it to the office today.”
- “I noticed smoke coming from under the hood, so I had to take the car to the garage. It’ll take the whole day, so I have to take the day off.”
You’re locked out of your house or car
Getting locked out can be a real hassle. You can explain that you’re waiting for a family member or roommate to bring you the spare key, or for a locksmith to arrive before you can head to work. Just use this excuse sparingly for it to remain convincing.
- “I accidentally left the keys in my car when I started it this morning. I’m waiting for my wife to come home with the spare key, and then I can head to work.”
- “I’m locked out of my house, and my roommate is out of town until tomorrow. The locksmith can’t come until this afternoon, so I’ll need to take the day off.”
- “I lost my keys this morning while I was at the gym, so I can’t get into my house to change clothes for work. I’m waiting for my boyfriend to come home with the spare key.”
You need to take a religious holiday off
Religious holidays are a legitimate reason to request time off if you inform your boss in advance. Pick a holiday that makes sense, as a celebration like Rosh Hashanah may seem odd if your boss knows you’re not Jewish. Religious holidays don’t come as a surprise, so you’ll need to give notice a day or two ahead.
- “I need to take tomorrow off for Yom Kippur.”
- “Friday is a restricted workday during Ramadan, so I’d like to leave early tomorrow.”
Tips
- Keep it brief, as too many details may make your excuse seem insincere. Just mention the reason, apologize for not informing earlier, and say you’ll provide more information if needed.
- Consider whether your reason for requesting time off makes sense (such as an injury or car breakdown) and whether it requires advance notice (like a religious holiday or waiting for an important delivery).
- When possible, call instead of texting or emailing. It shows that your reason is urgent and that you’re trying to inform your boss as soon as possible.
- Ensure your social media aligns with your time-off excuse. Posting a picture of you at the beach while claiming food poisoning will raise suspicion.
Warnings
- Review your company’s leave policies before calling in for time off. You could be monitored or face disciplinary action (and you probably want to save your leave days for real emergencies or illness).
