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How to chuck a sickie

How to Call in Sick when You Just Need a Day Off

Everyone needs the occasional unscheduled day of leisure or mental health break.

Unfortunately, your workplace probably doesn't like you doing this, and with good reason. Luckily, there is something you can do in this exact situation: call in sick. In some English speaking countries this is known as 'chucking a sickie' or 'playing hookie'.

Obviously this isn't a technique you can use too often, but it can give you that well-needed break.

In order to call in sick, you have to convince your colleagues and your boss that you were really sick.

Here is a short guide on how to chuck a sickie.

1. Do the groundwork

Getting away with chucking a sickie requires a lot of work before you call your boss. On the day before you plan to call in sick:

Pretend to be a little sick .
don't eat all of you food in breaks - say no to cakes
don't take a shower in the morning
don't shave (for men)
wear slightly scruffy clothes

2. Pick your day

Mondays and Fridays are always slightly dodgy days to choose. Your boss may suspect that you just want a long weekend
Don't pick a day which you have already been told you can't have off.
Don't chuck a sickie after having had a disagreement with someone at work - you don't want people to think that you are sulking!
Don't pick a day where there is something planned that everyone wants to get out of
If there has been a lot of people off sick you can grab your chance as flu epidemics do happen so your boss will be less suspitious if you also get sick.
make sure that you don't make a habit of chucking a sickie as too many single days will also get your bosses attention

3. Pick your illness with care

Certain illnesses like migraine or a runny tummy are good for one to two days. If you say you have the flu you will have to fake illness for longer - flu lasts about a week, so you will have to blow your nose and sniff for the rest of the week after your unscheduled day off. Don't pick random rare illnesses from the internet, they are less believable and can cause panic if you claim to have picked up a bug that requires quarantine and vaccinations.

You will have to be able to talk about your symptoms. There is always someone at work who either has had the same illness or knows someone that has.

4. Stay home on the day

If you call in sick you have to stay indoors. Your boss will know that you are lieing if he sees you on the local news hang-gliding or you meet a workmate in the local pub.

Remember that you can get into trouble for calling in and pretending to be sick. In the worse case you could get the sack. If you often feel the need to have a free day you may consider finding another job.

Adapted from:www.wikihow.com/Call-in-Sick-when-You-Just-Need-a-Day-Off

Here is a little film to help you: