The Top 10+ Good Excuses to Get Out of Work

There are times when we all need a break from work. Maybe the project we’re working on is proving to be more complicated than we anticipated, or perhaps we’re just not feeling motivated today.

Whatever the reason, sometimes it’s necessary to take a day off. But what do you do if you don’t have a valid excuse?

Here are good excuses to get out of work. Also, we will mention some wrong reasons that will probably only make your boss more suspicious.

Good excuses to get out of work

There are many reasons why one might need to get out of work, but sometimes it can be difficult to come up with a good excuse. Here are some of the best excuses to get you out of work:

1. You’re sick

If you’re genuinely sick, it’s best to skip work and avoid spreading your germs around the office. No one wants to be near you if you’re sneezing and feverish, and you’re not going to be very productive anyway.

It’s better to take the day off, get well sooner, and return to the office recharged. A doctor’s note can prove your illness, though it’s not always necessary. In any case, it’s better to err on the side of caution when being sick at work.

2. Your family member is ill

If you have a sick family member who needs your care, this is a legitimate reason to call out of work. If your sick child is home from school and needs your supervision, or your elderly parent needs help with basic tasks, you won’t be able to make it into the office.

In these cases, staying home from work is the best option for you and your family. However, while you may be able to do some work from home, in most cases, it will be more critical for you to be available to provide care. Therefore, taking a sick day in these circumstances is warranted, and your employer should understand.

3. You need a mental health day

Anyone who has worked a day knows that sometimes you need a break. Maybe you’re feeling burnt out from work or home life, and you need time to catch up on sleep, run some errands or relax. It’s perfectly acceptable to need a day for yourself every once in a while.

And, if your boss understands, they’ll know that this personal day can help you recharge and return to the office with renewed ambition. Yes, a pile of work may be waiting for you when you return, but taking a personal day can help you feel more equipped to tackle it. 

4. An unexpected event has happened to you

Whenever possible, it’s always best to try to notify your boss in advance if you know you’ll be missing work. However, there are some instances where circumstances are entirely out of your control, and you couldn’t have planned for them.

For example, if your babysitter cancels last minute or your flight gets delayed, you may need to miss work. These are valid reasons for missing work, as they are unexpected circumstances beyond your control.

In these cases, it’s essential to communicate with your boss as soon as possible, so they know the situation and can make appropriate accommodations.

5. A family emergency has arisen

While family emergencies are certainly not something you want to lie about, they can provide an excellent excuse to miss work if the situation is genuine.

These emergencies often involve your child, elderly parent, or spouse, ranging from a broken bone to a car accident. Family emergencies are stressful and can take up much of your time and attention.

As a result, it’s perfectly understandable if you need to take some time off from work to deal with the situation. Your employer should be understanding and accommodating in these situations, so don’t hesitate to use this excuse if you need it.

6. A house emergency has arisen

There are times when house emergencies occur as well. For example, You might accidentally start a small fire while making breakfast. There was a problem with the boiler. A gas leak may have occurred. The inspector is heading to your bedroom because you found bed bugs all over it. All of these are legitimate emergencies that call for an absence from work.

7. The commute is causing you severe problems

While there are certainly some commuting complications that you can control, such as leaving your house on time and having all the materials you need for your commute, there are many others that are out of your hands.

For example, if the bus breaks down or the train is delayed, there’s nothing you can do except wait it out or find another mode of transportation. And if there’s an accident on your route, you might be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic for hours.

8. A loved one has passed away

Losing a family member or close friend is always a tragic event. And while it’s impossible to predict when someone you love will pass away, most employers understand and offer some time off from work if it does happen.

This time off is called bereavement leave, allowing employees to make necessary arrangements and grieve without worrying about work. Some companies have strict policies about how much grief leave you can take, so check with your employer beforehand.

9. You have an appointment with the doctor

You may need to take time off work to attend an appointment at a medical facility that is only open during regular business hours. However, taking an entire day off for these appointments is generally unnecessary.

Therefore, try to schedule them for the morning or afternoon so that you will only have to take half a day off. You may also need to provide a doctor’s note if your employer requests one. 

10. You’re having car trouble

One of the most common excuses for being late to work is also one of the easiest to fix – your car didn’t start. If you find yourself in this situation, there’s no need to panic. Instead, just give your employer a call and let them know that you’re having car trouble and won’t be able to make it to work.

In most cases, they’ll understand and allow you to work from home for the day. So next time your car decides not to cooperate, don’t stress – you’ve got this!

11. There is a need for home repairs

Similar to the previous excuse, this one is great for an entire day off.

If you have a water leak, power outage, or any other repairman coming over, use this as your opportunity to stay home. You can even pretend that the repairman said he would be there between 12 pm – 12 am. That way, you have a 12-hour window to lounge around the house!

You can use this excuse more than once if repairs are needed on different days. Just be sure your boss believes you, and you should be good to go!

Related: What to Say in a Performance Review

Good excuses to get out of work early

There are plenty of good excuses to get out of work early, but sometimes it can be tough to pick the right one. Here are a few of my favorites:

• “My computer isn’t working and I need to take it to the shop.” This is a great excuse because it’s true – your computer probably isn’t working. And since you’re taking it to the shop, you’re technically not leaving work early.

• “I have a doctor’s appointment.” Again, this is a great excuse because it’s true – you do have a doctor’s appointment. Just make sure you go to the doctor’s office after work!

• “I’m not feeling well.” If you’re not feeling well, this is a valid excuse to leave work early. But if you’re just faking it, be careful – your boss may not be thrilled if you’re constantly calling in sick.

• “I need to pick up my kids from school.” This one is great if you have kids! Just make sure you do pick them up after work.

• “I have a personal emergency.” This is a bit of a vague excuse, but if you have a legitimate emergency, it’s a valid reason to leave work early.

So there you have it – five great excuses to get out of work early. Make sure you use them wisely and don’t abuse them, or your boss will catch on!

Bad excuses to get out of work

Let’s look at a few inappropriate reasons for getting out of work now that you know the acceptable reasons. Put yourself to work if you experience any of these symptoms!

1. Traffic is holding you up.

The risk of a car accident can slow you down, but you should usually plan your route accordingly and check the traffic before you go. Traffic is a terrible excuse for missing work.

2. Oversleeping

Mastering time management is a skill that takes practice, but it is worth it to avoid the stressful situations caused by being late.

Many things can contribute to being late, such as not giving yourself enough time to get ready in the morning or getting caught up in other activities throughout the day. While it may seem more straightforward to use being tired as an excuse, this will only worsen the situation.

3. Too good or too bad weather

No one likes going to work when the weather is terrible. Whether it’s raining, snowing, or too hot outside, something always makes us wish we could stay home. However, bad weather shouldn’t be an excuse to call in sick or work from home.

Instead, you should all try to tough it out and get to the office. After all, our jobs are essential, and they’re not going to get done if we’re not there to do them. 

4. Overwhelmed is how you feel

We’ve all been there. For example, you’re facing a massive deadline at work, and you feel like you’re about to drown in a sea of paperwork. Or maybe you’re dealing with a demanding boss and feeling completely overwhelmed.

Whatever the cause of your stress, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Workplace stress is one of the most common complaints among employees. If you want to solve the problem, talk to your boss instead of burying your head in the sand.

5. Your pet has a birthday today

Birthdays are a particular time to celebrate with friends and family, and many people choose to do so by throwing a big party. However, some people try to use their pet’s birthday as an excuse to get out of work. While it may be tempting to do so, it’s important to remember that unless your pet is an office pet, there’s no need to celebrate at work.

6. You’re afraid to leave the house

It’s natural to feel scared after watching a horror movie. After all, the whole point of the genre is to create a feeling of suspense and fear.

However, it’s important to remember that the events on screen are not actual. The monsters and ghosts are not out there waiting to harm you. They’re just figments of your imagination. So take a deep breath and relax.

There’s no reason to be afraid. If you really can’t bring yourself to leave the house, call a friend and ask them to come over. Just don’t watch any more horror movies!

7. Monday slipped your mind

Most people have had the experience of forgetting what day it is and Mixing up Monday for Sunday. While it can be frustrating, it’s usually not a big deal. However, if you use this as an excuse not to go to work, you will likely be called out on it.

In this case, it’s best to own up to the mistake and go to work. Trying to make up a story or excuses will only worsen the situation. So, if you find yourself in this predicament, bite the bullet and go to work. It may not be ideal, but it’s better than getting caught in a lie.

8. The apocalypse may be on the way

In an increasingly divided world, it is easy to think that our beliefs are the only ones that matter. However, as the saying goes, every story has two sides. It is important to remember that people of different backgrounds and experiences often have different perspectives on life. Just because someone disagrees with us does not mean that they are wrong.

9. It’s a bad hair day for you

Terrible hair days are no laughing matter. On the contrary, they can be downright disastrous. If your hair is beyond repair, throwing some water on it and starting over is often the best course of action.

Calling out of work for a bad hair day may seem like a good idea at the time, but it’s likely only to make matters worse. Your boss is expected to find the whole situation quite amusing, and you’ll be the one left feeling embarrassed. 

10. You just got your favorite show’s next season

You wake up on a workday morning, groggy and reluctant to start the day. But then you remember that your favorite show is on tonight, and you suddenly feel a surge of energy.

Sure, you could call in sick and spend the day lounging on the couch, but then you’d have to miss the show. And who knows when you’ll be able to catch it again? It’s tempting to devise a last-minute excuse to get out of work, but unfortunately, your boss will likely see through it. 

Related: How To Get a Job After Being Fired for Poor Performance

What to Do After Getting Approval for Taking a Day Off

Be sure to inform your team if you’re taking a day off after getting approval from your manager or boss. Doing this may be beneficial so that you can take time off in the future.

It’s also a problem if you interfere with the rest of the workplace’s productivity during your day off. In the end, you might have a more challenging time getting your employer to give you time off.

This can be handled by informing your colleagues that you will take the day off. If you are leading a meeting, move it. Alternatively, you can let those meetings know you will not be attending, but someone else will.

Related: How To Give Feedback to Managers

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for a day off to recharge or you need to take care of some personal business, hopefully, one of these eleven excuses will work for you. Just be sure not to use any wrong reasons – they’ll only make your boss more suspicious.

Have you ever used an excuse from this list? Let us know in the comment section below!

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