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Good Excuses To Miss Work Employers are often understanding when their employees miss time at work due to an unexpected emergency or accident occurs. On the other hand, they might not be so sympathetic when staff members start taking random time off, especially if it occurs on a routine basis.
As an employee of a New York employer, it’s a good idea to know what your employer’s policies are regarding paid, or unpaid, time off. This way, you know how to present your reasoning when requesting to take days (or weeks) off from work.
Good Reasons & Excuses To Call Off Or Miss Work
| Reason for Absence | Description | Documentation Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Illness | Employee is sick and unable to perform their duties. | Yes, if requested |
| Medical appointments | Employee has a scheduled appointment with a healthcare professional. | Yes |
| Family emergency | A sudden, unexpected event requiring the employee’s immediate attention. | Yes, if requested |
| Bereavement | The death of a close family member or friend. | Yes |
| Jury duty | Employee is required to serve as a juror in a legal proceeding. | Yes |
| Military leave | Employee is a reservist or active-duty military personnel called to duty. | Yes |
| Maternity/Paternity leave | Employee is taking time off for the birth or adoption of a child. | Yes |
| Personal day | Employee requires a day off for personal reasons. | No |
| Mental health day | Employee takes a day off to focus on their mental well-being. | No |
| Natural disaster | Employee is unable to reach work due to a natural disaster (e.g., flood). | No |
| Car accident | Employee is involved in a car accident and unable to work. | Yes, if requested |
| Victims of domestic violence | Employee is seeking relief from domestic violence, harassment, or assault. | Yes |
Excuses to Call Out of Work during COVID-19 While accidents, personal illness, and emergencies are common reasons to call off work, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced new reasons to take time off. If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with the virus, it’s important to stay home to avoid spreading the disease. Employers have the legal right to require you to submit to coronavirus testing and have a negative result before returning to work.
The following symptoms qualify as legitimate reasons to call off work during COVID-19:
- Dry cough, fatigue, and fever are the earliest and most common symptoms of COVID-19.
- Chest pressure or pain, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, discoloration of toes or fingers, headache, loss of voluntary movement or speech, loss of sense of taste, smell, or both, shortness of breath, and skin rash are less common and more severe symptoms.
Your Legal Rights if You Test Positive or Have Exposure to COVID-19 Under the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act, employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees with a disability. Although federal law does not yet consider coronavirus as a disability, its highly contagious and unknown nature requires flexibility and understanding from the nation’s employers.
If you test positive for COVID-19 or have exposure to the virus, your employer may offer one or more options as reasonable accommodation:
- Give you permission to work from home until you’re healthy enough to return to the office.
- Provide you with personal protective equipment to ensure your safety if you directly serve the public in any capacity.
- Offer you the opportunity to take unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), use short-term disability if offered or use your accrued vacation and/or sick time leave to cover the time you miss.
- You also have legal protection under New York’s whistleblower laws if your employer attempts to retaliate against you if you report the company for violating coronavirus restrictions.
Bonus One
While it’s important to take work responsibilities seriously, there can be situations where taking a personal day for recreation and relaxation can be beneficial for overall wellbeing. Here’s a fun take on why playing the new Call of Duty might be considered an acceptable reason to miss work:
Reason: New Game Release – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Description: The much-anticipated release of the new Call of Duty game. As an avid PC gamer, this is a significant event that I’ve been waiting for. It’s not just about playing a game; it’s about immersing myself in a new world, a new storyline, and new gameplay mechanics. This day allows me to indulge in my passion, relieve stress, and rejuvenate, leading to increased productivity when I return to work.
Documentation Required?: No, but I might share a screenshot or two of my in-game achievements!
Remember, it’s essential to communicate with your employer or HR department about taking personal days and to understand their policies. In many workplaces, it’s perfectly acceptable to use personal days for recreation and hobbies, as long as you’re transparent and responsible about it. After all, happy employees often make for a more productive workforce!
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