HOW TO WRITE A PROFESSIONAL SICK DAY EMAIL (with an example)

Too sick to go to work? A runny nose, fever or dry cough? The right thing to do is to stay at home. However, you have to notify your boss of the situation so all the appropriate arrangements can be made to cover your absence.

We’ve pulled together a list of 16 tips on how to write your sick day email.

1. Notify your manager as soon as you can—send your email before the time you should be arriving at work
2. Always follow company protocol
3. Write a straightforward email subject line
4. Keep it short
5. If you work for a company that distinguishes between sick days and personal days, indicate which of those you’re using
6. Alert your colleagues if necessary—it will help them to adjust to your absence as smoothly and quickly as possible
7. Include the reason for your absence 
8. Include how long you’ll be absent 
9. Clarify whether you’ll work from home
10. Keep unnecessary details to a minimum
11. Be clear on your availability
12. Clarify whether or not you will answer urgent emails and calls
13. Name the contact person who will handle your workload
14. Consider setting up an out-of-office response for your work email and/or telephone account—let people who try to contact you know that you won’t be responding to email today
15. Give clear next steps on whatever you’re working on
16. Choose a professional closing