In 2023, I made a decision to run a half marathon. As any long-distance runner would do, I discovered a coaching plan and got down to crush some observe miles.
However you understand what they are saying concerning the best-laid plans, proper?
My physique failed me, and I fractured my hip. Which, sadly, resulted in me needing to take a number of sick days at work. How was I going to clarify this one to my boss?
With a sick day e-mail.
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Sick day emails are brief, direct emails you ship to your boss to alert them of your absence. It’s essential to do not forget that you’re not asking for a break day however slightly telling your boss you gained’t be in resulting from medical causes past your management.
Whether or not you’re like me and also you’ve damaged a bone, you’re bodily sick, otherwise you want a psychological well being day, you should utilize ChatGPT to put in writing sick day emails.
Right here’s how.
(Trace: Use these ChatGPT prompts beneath!)
What ChatGPT Wrote Me
ChatGPt is a useful writing assistant — particularly should you’re coping with author’s block and uncertain find out how to write a proper sick day e-mail.
I requested ChatGPT to put in writing 5 sick day emails to make use of for varied eventualities.
Right here’s what I obtained.
The “I’m Fairly Positive I Broke a Bone” E-mail
Beginning with the instance of my damaged hip, I requested ChatGPT to put in writing an e-mail to let my boss know I might not be in to work resulting from a probably damaged bone.
That is the immediate: “I have to e-mail my boss to let him know I’m sick. I believe I’ve damaged a bone. Please write an e-mail.”
And right here is ChatGPT’s advised sick day e-mail.
ChatGPT’s e-mail draft describes the state of affairs with out going into element. The e-mail clarifies that you’ll take in your missed job tasks once you return to the workplace and prolong the supply to work remotely if attainable.
However, it additionally assumes that you’ve got already contacted a medical skilled and have been assessed by a physician. This isn’t all the time the case. Generally, you might want the break day to get an appointment with an orthopedic clinic.
So, relying in your state of affairs, you’ll have to edit the draft to be as trustworthy as attainable. In my expertise, being trustworthy is significantly better than making an attempt to cover one thing.
ChatGPT’s tone of voice is formal. In case your work setting is extra formal and severe, this draft of a sick day e-mail will work with out too many edits.
Some workplaces and staff are extra laid again. If that is your workplace vibe, it is best to edit the draft to match your tone of voice and your boss’s expectations.
Professional tip: At all times edit a ChatGPT draft e-mail. The tone is probably going not your voice, and it will likely be evident you used an AI writing instrument in your sick day emails.
The “I Have a Abdomen Bug” E-mail
When you have a abdomen bug, there isn’t a means you’ll be able to go to work. As a coworker, I wouldn’t need you to come back into the workplace, particularly in case you are contagious.
So, the most effective factor to do is use ChatGPT to put in writing a sick day e-mail and clarify why you’ll be able to’t make it to your boss.
I used this immediate to put in writing an e-mail: “I have to e-mail my boss explaining I’m sick and can’t come to work. I’ve a abdomen bug, and I’m contagious. Please write my e-mail.”
Right here’s ChatGPT’s response.
You don’t want to enter gory particulars of your sickness to inform your boss you’re sick with a abdomen bug. Merely saying, “I’ve a contagious abdomen bug,” is sufficient. Belief me.
ChatGPT does an excellent job explaining one of many predominant causes it is best to keep house– to forestall the unfold of sickness to others. And the response can also be aware of the influence your absence can have on the remainder of the staff.
Once more, ChatGPT assumes that you’ve got seen a medical skilled about your sickness. If you happen to haven’t but gone to go to the physician or don’t really feel you could for a 24-hour abdomen bug, you’ll have to delete this a part of the e-mail earlier than you ship it.
Professional tip: Delete any copy out of your ChatGPT draft that doesn’t apply to your state of affairs and omit the gross particulars of your expertise.
The “I Have a Frequent Chilly” E-mail
The frequent chilly isn’t almost as extreme because it feels typically. Nonetheless, if we’ve realized something from the pandemic, staying house in case you are feeling sick is finest.
If you happen to’ve obtained a chilly and you could keep house from work, use my ChatGPT immediate to put in writing your e-mail to your boss.
The immediate is: “I want to remain house from work right this moment. I’m sick with the frequent chilly. Please write an e-mail to my boss to clarify I’m sick and can be house right this moment.”
Right here’s what the response seems like.
ChatGPT’s response clearly explains that you understand you’ll be accountable for lacking work. And it acknowledges that by staying house to relaxation, you’ll be on prime of your recreation a lot sooner slightly than later.
The response additionally acknowledges the well being and well-being of your coworkers. In my expertise, bosses recognize once you keep house to get better in order to not get the remainder of the staff sick. Too many staff out on sick depart might decelerate productiveness for the week.
One factor I don’t love concerning the ChatGPT responses, although, is “I recognize your help throughout this time” on the finish of the e-mail.
To me, the wording is off. This response makes it sound like your chilly is a life-or-death state of affairs. Normally, you’ll absolutely get better from a chilly in just some brief days, so the half about help is pointless.
Professional tip: Take away any sentences that make your sickness appear worse than it’s.
The “I Have COVID” E-mail
If you happen to’ve been uncovered to COVID or the flu and also you’re displaying indicators or signs, you completely have to take a sick day and keep house. Probably, you gained’t really feel as much as working anyway.
And, should you’re not feeling properly sufficient to put in writing your sick day e-mail, use this immediate: “I’ve examined optimistic for COVID. My physician has me out of labor for 5 days or till I take a look at damaging. Please write an e-mail explaining my absence to my boss.”
ChatGPT’s response can be this:
The ChatGPT response clearly explains once you’ll be again to work in 5 days or once you take a look at damaging for the virus. Stating this upfront lets your boss know when to anticipate your return to the workplace.
The response additionally mentions offering documentation of a medical go to. In my expertise, some HR departments do require documentation of medical notes out of your suppliers, whereas others don’t. In case your office requires a physician’s word, you’ll need to maintain this half in your e-mail to your boss.
Professional tip: In your ChatGPT question, specify the times you’ll be out of labor. This gives you an correct response that gained’t require an edit.
The “I Want a Psychological Well being Day” e-mail
You realize once you’re simply not mentally as much as going to work? Are you feeling a bit burned out, and you understand that relaxation would do you some good?
It’s okay. We’ve all been there, and there’s no disgrace in taking a psychological well being day to recuperate. Nonetheless, writing an e-mail to clarify why you want the break day might be tough — particularly if you wish to be bothered by work calls when you’re out.
Right here’s find out how to write your ChatGPT immediate to take a sick day in your psychological well being.
Immediate: “I have to take a psychological well being day. I’m not bodily sick, however I’m mentally exhausted. I have to flip my telephone off and never obtain work calls throughout the day. Please write an e-mail to my boss explaining why I can be out of labor.”
Right here’s the ChatGPT response.
The ChatGPT response to this immediate is well mannered however direct. It clearly explains why you want the break day with out explicitly stating, “I want a psychological well being day!”
As a substitute of providing to work whereas out remotely, this response additionally clarifies that you’ll full your work obligations earlier than or after your return to the workplace. Working when you’re out for a psychological well being day defeats the aim of your much-needed absence.
This ChatGPT response is, total, a well-written sick day e-mail. However, as I mentioned earlier than, you’ll have to edit the draft to make sure it matches your tone of voice.
Professional tip: You could inform ChatGPT that you’ll not settle for work calls when you’re out. In any other case, your generated response will say, “I’ll full my duties throughout my absence,” which can lead your boss to assume you’re up for distant work.
The Excellent Sick Day E-mail Template
ChatGPT is a good writing useful resource, however its output would possibly learn like a canned response. You’ll have to edit the draft earlier than you e-mail your boss about why you could be out of labor.
Or, you should utilize a sick day e-mail template to save lots of and rapidly edit when wanted.
Let’s take a look at the weather of an ideal sick day e-mail template.
Topic Line
By no means depart an e-mail topic line clean. As a substitute, your topic line ought to clearly state what the e-mail is about. That means, your boss doesn’t miss the e-mail of their inbox.
A very good topic line to make use of is: [Your Name] Sick Depart Request.
Greeting
Within the ChatGPT e-mail response, the greeting says, “I hope this e-mail finds you properly.”
It is a nice strategy to begin your e-mail to your boss.
Rationalization
Your sick day e-mail wants to clarify why you gained’t have the ability to make it to work. Embody one thing like, “I simply needed to tell you that I’m unwell right this moment and unable to work.”
You don’t want to enter element about your sickness, however it is best to clearly convey that you’re unwell. If you happen to’re contagious, you would possibly need to point out that so your boss understands why you aren’t within the workplace.
Return to Work
Your boss will need to know once you’ll return. That is essential to incorporate in your e-mail so your boss is aware of if another person within the workplace wants to finish high-priority duties. Merely stating, “I’ll be again on Tuesday,” is ok.
Availability
If you happen to’re feeling properly sufficient to make money working from home, embrace that in your e-mail. Your boss will recognize your willingness to assist the staff when you’re out of the workplace.
However should you’re too unwell to work remotely, it is best to say that. You’ll be able to say, “I’ll maintain my work obligations once I return to the workplace.”
Closing Assertion
It’s best to all the time finish your sick day emails with a closing assertion to thank your boss for understanding your predicament. Merely say, “Thanks for understanding!” to shut your e-mail.
Sick Day E-mail Template
In my expertise, I’ve found saving a draft e-mail template to your inbox or Google Drive is useful in case of diseases and emergencies.
Save a replica of this sick day e-mail template to make use of and edit when wanted.
Topic line: [Your Name] Sick Day Request
Good morning, [Boss’s Name].
I hope this e-mail finds you properly. Sadly, I’m feeling unwell right this moment and can’t make it to work. I’m afraid I’m contagious and am involved about spreading my sickness to my coworkers.
I hope to be again within the workplace tomorrow!
I’m feeling properly sufficient to finish some work duties remotely. If there may be something you want me to do from house right this moment, please let me know. I’ll maintain an everyday examine on my e-mail.
OR
I’m not feeling properly sufficient to work remotely right this moment. I’ll deal with my work tasks once I return to the workplace.
I’ll be again to work quickly. Thanks for understanding!
[Your Name]
Taking a Sick Day
Emailing your boss to take a sick day, particularly if wanted, doesn’t want so as to add further stress to your physique. If you happen to’re uncertain what to say in your e-mail, use ChatGPT to information you.
It’s essential to notice that ChatGPT’s response to your question ought to solely be used as a draft— in any other case, your boss would possibly suspect you used an AI instrument to put in writing your e-mail, and also you danger sounding too formal.
Or, should you’re caught and ChatGPT isn’t obtainable, use my template. The sick day e-mail template is brief, candy, and to the purpose. Plus, it doesn’t learn like a robotic, like ChatGPT responses typically do.
Copy, paste, and save the template or ChatGPT response for when you could relaxation, get better, and get properly.
