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 follow 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 elucidate this one to my boss?
With a sick day electronic mail.
Sick day emails are brief, direct emails you ship to your boss to alert them of your absence. It’s essential to keep in mind that you’re not asking for a day without work however reasonably telling your boss you gained’t be in as a result of 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 use ChatGPT to write down sick day emails.
Right here’s how.
(Trace: Use these ChatGPT prompts under!)
What ChatGPT Wrote Me
ChatGPt is a useful writing assistant — particularly for those who’re coping with author’s block and uncertain the right way to write a proper sick day electronic mail.
I requested ChatGPT to write down 5 sick day emails to make use of for varied eventualities.
Right here’s what I acquired.
The “I’m Fairly Positive I Broke a Bone” Electronic mail
Beginning with the instance of my damaged hip, I requested ChatGPT to write down an electronic mail to let my boss know I might not be in to work as a result of a probably damaged bone.
That is the immediate: “I have to electronic mail my boss to let him know I’m sick. I believe I’ve damaged a bone. Please write an electronic mail.”
And right here is ChatGPT’s steered sick day electronic mail.
ChatGPT’s electronic mail draft describes the scenario with out going into element. The e-mail clarifies that you’ll take in your missed job tasks whenever you return to the workplace and prolong the provide to work remotely if doable.
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. Typically, it’s possible you’ll want the day without work to get an appointment with an orthopedic clinic.
So, relying in your scenario, you’ll have to edit the draft to be as trustworthy as doable. In my expertise, being trustworthy is significantly better than attempting to cover one thing.
ChatGPT’s tone of voice is formal. In case your work atmosphere is extra formal and severe, this draft of a sick day electronic mail will work with out too many edits.
Some places of work and workers 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: All the time edit a ChatGPT draft electronic mail. The tone is probably going not your voice, and it is going to be evident you used an AI writing device in your sick day emails.
The “I Have a Abdomen Bug” Electronic mail
When you have a abdomen bug, there isn’t a approach you possibly can go to work. As a coworker, I wouldn’t need you to return into the workplace, particularly if you’re contagious.
So, one of the best factor to do is use ChatGPT to write down a sick day electronic mail and clarify why you possibly can’t make it to your boss.
I used this immediate to write down an electronic mail: “I have to electronic 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 electronic 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 principal causes it is best to keep residence– to forestall the unfold of sickness to others. And the response can be aware of the impression your absence can have on the remainder of the workforce.
Once more, ChatGPT assumes that you’ve got seen a medical skilled about your sickness. When you haven’t but gone to go to the physician or don’t really feel it is advisable to 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 scenario and omit the gross particulars of your expertise.
The “I Have a Frequent Chilly” Electronic mail
The frequent chilly isn’t almost as extreme because it feels generally. Nonetheless, if we’ve discovered something from the pandemic, staying residence if you’re feeling sick is greatest.
When you’ve acquired a chilly and it is advisable to keep residence from work, use my ChatGPT immediate to write down your electronic mail to your boss.
The immediate is: “I would like to remain residence from work in the present day. I’m sick with the frequent chilly. Please write an electronic mail to my boss to elucidate I’m sick and might be residence in the present day.”
Right here’s what the response appears to be like like.
ChatGPT’s response clearly explains that you understand you’ll be answerable for lacking work. And it acknowledges that by staying residence to relaxation, you’ll be on prime of your recreation a lot sooner reasonably than later.
The response additionally acknowledges the well being and well-being of your coworkers. In my expertise, bosses admire whenever you keep residence to get well in order to not get the remainder of the workforce sick. Too many workers out on sick depart could decelerate productiveness for the week.
One factor I don’t love concerning the ChatGPT responses, although, is “I admire your assist 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 scenario. Normally, you’ll absolutely get well from a chilly in just some brief days, so the half about assist is pointless.
Professional tip: Take away any sentences that make your sickness appear worse than it’s.
The “I Have COVID” Electronic mail
When you’ve been uncovered to COVID or the flu and also you’re exhibiting indicators or signs, you completely have to take a sick day and keep residence. Most certainly, you gained’t really feel as much as working anyway.
And, for those who’re not feeling nicely sufficient to write down your sick day electronic mail, use this immediate: “I’ve examined constructive for COVID. My physician has me out of labor for 5 days or till I check destructive. Please write an electronic mail explaining my absence to my boss.”
ChatGPT’s response might be this:
The ChatGPT response clearly explains whenever you’ll be again to work in 5 days or whenever you check destructive for the virus. Stating this upfront lets your boss know when to count on 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 notice, you’ll need to maintain this half in your electronic mail to your boss.
Professional tip: In your ChatGPT question, specify the times you’ll be out of labor. This will provide you with an correct response that gained’t require an edit.
The “I Want a Psychological Well being Day” electronic mail
You already know whenever you’re simply not mentally as much as going to work? Are you feeling just a little 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 electronic mail to elucidate why you want the day without work might be difficult — particularly if you wish to be bothered by work calls when you’re out.
Right here’s the right way 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 in the course of the day. Please write an electronic mail to my boss explaining why I might 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 day without work with out explicitly stating, “I would like 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, general, a well-written sick day electronic 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: It’s essential to 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 Good Sick Day Electronic mail Template
ChatGPT is a good writing useful resource, however its output may learn like a canned response. You’ll have to edit the draft earlier than you electronic mail your boss about why it is advisable to be out of labor.
Or, you should use a sick day electronic mail template to avoid wasting and rapidly edit when wanted.
Let’s have a look at the weather of an ideal sick day electronic mail template.
Topic Line
By no means depart an electronic mail topic line clean. As a substitute, your topic line ought to clearly state what the e-mail is about. That approach, your boss doesn’t miss the e-mail of their inbox.
A very good topic line to make use of is: [Your Name] Sick Go away Request.
Greeting
Within the ChatGPT electronic mail response, the greeting says, “I hope this electronic mail finds you nicely.”
It is a nice option to begin your electronic mail to your boss.
Rationalization
Your sick day electronic mail wants to elucidate why you gained’t be capable to make it to work. Embrace one thing like, “I simply wished to tell you that I’m unwell in the present day 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. When you’re contagious, you may 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 whenever you’ll return. That is essential to incorporate in your electronic 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
When you’re feeling nicely sufficient to earn a living from home, embody that in your electronic mail. Your boss will admire your willingness to assist the workforce when you’re out of the workplace.
However for those who’re too unwell to work remotely, it is best to say that. You possibly can say, “I’ll maintain my work obligations after I return to the workplace.”
Closing Assertion
You must 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 electronic mail.
Sick Day Electronic mail Template
In my expertise, I’ve found saving a draft electronic mail template to your inbox or Google Drive is useful in case of sicknesses and emergencies.
Save a duplicate of this sick day electronic 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 electronic mail finds you nicely. Sadly, I’m feeling unwell in the present day 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 nicely sufficient to finish some work duties remotely. If there’s something you want me to do from residence in the present day, please let me know. I’ll maintain a daily test on my electronic mail.
OR
I’m not feeling nicely sufficient to work remotely in the present day. I’ll deal with my work tasks after 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 additional stress to your physique. When you’re uncertain what to say in your electronic 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 may suspect you used an AI device to write down your electronic mail, and also you threat sounding too formal.
Or, for those who’re caught and ChatGPT isn’t obtainable, use my template. The sick day electronic mail template is brief, candy, and to the purpose. Plus, it doesn’t learn like a robotic, like ChatGPT responses generally do.
Copy, paste, and save the template or ChatGPT response for when it is advisable to relaxation, get well, and get nicely.