Gone are the days when a phone call was the main way to call in sick.
In addition to text and email, messaging apps such as Teams and Slack have become vital communication tools for many organisations.
With multiple ways to be in touch, we asked experts for their advice on the best ways to let your employer know that you won't be in.
Find out your workplace's protocol
Libby Sander, an assistant professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bond University on the Gold Coast, the Yugambeh Language region, says it's important to know what your workplace's protocol for calling in sick and to follow it.
"We need to be really conscious that most people nowadays are working across multiple platforms in any organisation," Dr Sander says.
"But I think the idea that you can just go, 'Hey, I'm sick today' in WhatsApp is probably not a very polite or professional way of doing it."
Dr Sander says picking up the phone is still a considerate approach and a sure-fire way to know your message has been received.
What to say when calling in sick
If you've ever worried about what you sound like when calling in sick, our experts have this advice.
Dr Sandler says you don't need to feel like you have to sound really sick, "because there's such a variety of reasons why people might be taking their day off — and legitimately able to do that now", such as for mental health reasons, and "it's legislated for all kinds of things".
It's a sentiment shared by University of Queensland labour law expert Graeme Orr.
"We think there's something called medical leave, but actually, under the National Employment Standards, it's something called personal leave, which incorporates carer's leave," Professor Orr says.
You're not obliged to go into detail about what sort of illness you have, and as Dr Sander points out, "most medical certificates don't give any information, just that you're not fit for duty".
"If you're sick on an ongoing basis, and you're maybe no longer able to continue doing your job or you require modifications to your job, then I think it's reasonable that the employee is going to need to have more detail about what that is, in order to make the modifications," she adds.
Having a "mental health day" is also a legitimate reason for taking personal leave, and as principal organisational psychologist Rachel Clements says, "taking a mental health day when you need it is, firstly, about demonstrating self-awareness, which is a cornerstone of resilience".
Give as much notice as possible
If you know in advance that you are going to have to take time off for a medical appointment or carer's leave, it's courteous to let your employer know at the earliest opportunity.
Dr Sander says this can allow employers to make alternative plans.
"Even if something potentially could be coming up, flag it with your manager, flag it with your team. It's much nicer than no notice and then leaving [your team] to deal with something that could have been worked around and prepared for," she says.
The notice period will likely be shorter if you're taking leave in an emergency or if you become unwell.
New 'right to disconnect' laws are set to come into effect in August, and Dr Sander acknowledges many workers are already actively encouraged not to log on to work devices outside of working hours.
"I still don't think it hurts to email your employer when you are unwell and give them that notice, but obviously, they may read it or they may not read it until business hours," she says.
Let your team know what your responsibilities are
If you are able, it can be good idea to let your manager know about any important tasks that may be missed while you're away.
"From a minute-to-minute, day-to-day basis, [our co-workers] may not know what our priorities are or what we're working on, and so the onus is on us," Dr Sander says.
"If you're dealing with something that is urgent or time-sensitive … let them know if anything urgent needs to be done, because there could be bigger implications — for that project or for the organisation."
Should you go to work when you're sick?
Before the pandemic, it was more common to continue going into the office or workplaces when you were unwell.
COVID-19 and the restrictions that came with it made turning up to work unwell unacceptable, but Dr Sander fears we may be returning to old habits.
"In the first few years [of the pandemic] it was 'don't go in sick — you're not even allowed to, it's just really poor form'," she says.
"I feel like it's kind of gone back to what it used to be … but if you do have access to sick leave, then don't come in if you're sick, because, one, you're probably going to be miserable, and secondly, you're making everybody else sick around you and nobody wants that."
This is general information only. For detailed personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner who knows your medical history.
