How to Write a Sick Leave Letter (With Examples)
Life happens and you might find yourself needing to submit a sick leave request to your employer. Here are some sick leave letter samples and tips to write yours.
Life happens and you might find yourself needing to submit a sick leave request to your employer. Here are some sick leave letter samples and tips to write yours.
Copy and paste this free sick leave letter template into Microsoft Word or one of our letter templates and make it your own.
A sick leave letter is a formal document written to notify employers or supervisors that due to an illness or a medical condition, you need extended time off. This letter is usually accompanied by a medical certification or doctor’s notice. Writing a sick leave letter is a professional way to communicate your health issues, provide notice and seek approval for that time off.
You should submit a sick leave letter as soon as your primary care physician informs you that you can’t work due to illness, a medical condition or because you will be getting surgery and need time to recover. The goal of a sick leave letter is to give your employer enough time so they can make the necessary arrangements to manage the workload during your absence.
There are moments when handing in a hard copy of your sick leave letter isn’t possible — this is where an email comes in handy. Similar to the printed version, your email should provide the dates you’ll be absent, have a professional tone, offer to make the transition seamless and include your willingness to keep your employer updated with your recovery.
The only difference between a printed sick leave letter and an email one is where you place the contact information. As you can see from the sick leave letter sample below, in an email, your information goes under your signature.
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Maintaining a professional and polite tone when asking for sick leave is important. Before you submit your sick leave letter to HR, we recommend talking to your supervisor or manager to let them know what’s happening — they’ll appreciate being in the loop. Once you informed them and had that conversation, follow your company’s sick leave policy and hand in your letter.
Everyone gets sick occasionally, so requesting a sick day is normal. Whether your employer has a specific platform they use to put in your sick day or a form you must fill out, we always suggest informing your supervisor first. Tell them you won’t be able to make it to work that day because you don’t feel well. You don’t have to provide any details about your symptoms.
Typically, a doctor’s notice isn’t needed if you’re requesting a single day off but look at your company’s sick day policy to make sure you’re following their rules.
Whether through email, a letter or a messaging platform, it’s important to be concise and professional. Let your supervisor know you won’t make it to work because you’re under the weather or not feeling well — you don’t need to go into details about your symptoms.
If your illness requires you to be absent for more than a day or two, you might need to write a formal sick leave letter accompanied by a doctor’s notice. It’s best to see what your employer’s sick leave policy is and follow it. Generally speaking, however, most sick leave letters will include the dates you’ll be absent, a quick explanation of what’s going on and a promise to keep your supervisor updated on your condition.
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