Sometimes a call to your boss regarding a sick day can feel intimidating. (Pexels)
With so many options to reach people these days, knowing the best way to let your boss know you're sick isn't always obvious.
A phone call can also be intimidating, compared to email, text, or a message on Teams or Slack.
We look at your obligations when it comes to calling in sick, including what to say and what evidence you may need.
Are there different rules for different workplaces?
Workplaces will have their own procedures or preferences around calling in sick.
That may include who you inform and how.
Some experts advise that picking up the phone is the most professional and considerate approach, or checking what your workplace's protocol is.
How much notice is best?
It's courteous to inform your workplace you will need time off as soon as you know.
That may allow them to prepare or make alternative arrangements, such as finding someone to cover your shift, or delegate pressing tasks among the team.
Most Australian workers now have the right to disconnect outside work hours, so you may want to discuss what's acceptable and appropriate with your manager.
If it's an emergency or you become unwell not long before you are due to start work, you may not be able to give as much notice.
What to say when you call in sick?
If you're worried about whether you sound sick on a phone call, don't be.
There are many reasons someone may need to take personal leave, including mental health, and you're not obliged to go into detail.
This may change if you're sick on an ongoing basis, and an employer needs to make reasonable adjustments to help you do your job effectively.
Do you need a medical certificate?
Medical evidence is not always required for personal leave.
Experts say employees should get familiar with the industrial instrument, such as an enterprise bargaining agreement, that applies to their workplace.
If you do need documentation, the most cost-effective way of obtaining it is by visiting a bulk-billing doctor for a free consultation and certificate.
If you can't get to a bulk-billed clinic, you could be about $60 out of pocket for a day off.
Telehealth appointments are a good option if you can't get to physically see a doctor.
Pharmacists can issue medical certificates for a range of ailments that may require an absence from work, often at a cost, but not all pharmacies offer that service.
If you can't get a medical certificate, what options are there?
According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, a statutory declaration is acceptable evidence for medical leave.
And you can do it online, without needing to have it signed by someone like a Justice of the Peace (JP).
Since early 2024, it's possible to make Commonwealth statutory declarations using your Digital Identity, by creating a myGovID and attaching it to your myGov account.
No sick leave?
It's not an easy decision to stay home, especially when you don't have access to paid sick leave.
But experts say it's worth remembering that while your symptoms may be mild, you could spread an illness to someone who could become much more unwell.
And it's important to take the time you need to get better.
If you are able to work from home, that might be a good compromise, as long as your illness is mild.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-15/how-to-call-in-sick-and-what-evidence-you-need/105152018
