Slacker tip #42 - Tips on calling in sick when you’re really out of town
I don’t like to ask for days off, and take the chance that the boss would tell me ‘no’ because then I’d have to quit because there is no way I’m changing my plans just because a job wants to play authority figure with me. So, when I’m out of town, I’m usually calling in the entire time. However, this can get you in serious trouble if you’re not careful.
Before you leave town and plan to call in, you should see if your voicemail at work records delivery information on the caller, specifically the phone number called from. If it does, then you cannot call in from a long distance number or they will call your bluff! This means you will need to have a cell phone to use to call in. But sometimes, even this can be a problem as they will ask you why you called from your cell phone when you usually call from your home phone.
Here are a couple of ways around that:
If possible, always call in from your cell phone, even if you are at home, as this sets up the expectation that you will call from that number. This is the easiest way to avoid a headache later on down the road.
If it’s too late and you’ve used your home phone all the previous times, there is an excuse for that too. But you have to use being sick as your reason for being out. So, you call in as “sick” using your cell phone. When you boss asks why you didn’t use the home phone, you can say that you don’t have a phone in your bedroom and you were in bed because you felt so bad, or something to that effect.
Something else to keep in mind when calling in – background noises!
If you’re calling in to have an extended weekend in New York City, but saying you’re home sick, then make sure that there are not honking cabs in the background, especially if you live in East Bumblefuck where the only sounds are cows mating. I have found that the best place to call in when you are out of town is in a hotel bathroom. It’s usually very quiet in there and you won’t get any out of the ordinary noises in the background – unless you’ve ordered room service! So, do the calling in before you call room service!
And if you change time zones in your travels, keep that in mind when you get ready to call in. If you live in California but are skipping work and on the East Coast, it will look suspicious if you call in and leave a message at 4:30 a.m. California time.
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