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The #1 tracker for your team’s PTO, vacations and absences. Save the time spent on tracking your team's vacations, Day Off will help you track your team’s leaves and absences in one place. In seconds you will set up your leave policies, approval workflow and enjoy a unique experience. Get started for free.
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DAY OFF definition: 1. a day when you do not have to work or do something that you normally do: 2. a day when you do…. Learn more.
- Overview
- Draft your text before sending i
- Tell your supervisor you'd like to take time off with confidenc
- Make your text concis
- Be honest about needing the day off for an emergenc
- Avoid making excuses if you don’t have a valid reaso
- Suggest making up for unpaid time of
- Offer to be available if you're on the clock at hom
- Request multiple days if you’re unsure how long you nee
- Send texts during regular business hour
Need to take some time off? Whether it’s a sudden emergency or a far-off vacation, asking for time off is simpler than you might think. In today’s professional landscape, a text can be all it takes to get you the time off that you deserve. Keep reading for a comprehensive list of tips and examples for how to ask for a day off over text.
Make sure your request is clear and without typos.
When you’re sending a text to your supervisor about requesting time off, it shouldn’t sound casual and hastily-written. The more seriously you take the text, the more your supervisor will realize you care about respecting them and their business.
For a standard example of a professional format:
First, say hello and clearly provide your request. For example, “Hi there, Sabrina. I’d like to take Monday, January 31 off.”
If you can’t come in last-minute, be firm but apologetic. For example, “I’m so sorry, but I won’t be able to come in today.”
Clarify if you’ll be using paid time off. For example, “I’d like to use 8 hours of my PTO,” or “I’m planning for this time off to be unpaid.”
Be forthright about your right to put in a request.
When you’re requesting time off, it’s usually better to “tell” your supervisor you’d like it than to “ask” for permission. The less firm you sound in your request being allowed, the more likely your supervisor is to push back on it. As long as you’re following company guidelines, your supervisor shouldn’t be able to deny your request.
For example, "Hi Susan. I’m so sorry, but I’m sick and won’t be able to come in today." Or, "Hi Marcus. I’d like to use some PTO to take March 3 off."
Know that your supervisor might push back is if other people have requested the same dates or you’ve taken too much time off recently.
Don’t go into too much detail about why you’re taking time off.
Contrary to popular belief, the more you explain why you need time off, the more likely your supervisor is to question it. Plus, you have a right to a certain degree of privacy. Keep your request as simple as possible.
For example, if you’re requesting planned time off to go to a concert in another city, just say “I’ll be out of town on this date.”
If you’re requesting sudden time off because of illness, you don’t need to give specific details. Just say “I woke up feeling sick,” or “I have a cold.”
You have a right to deal with actual crises.
If you need time off because something happened to you or a loved one, you should be upfront about needing to deal with it. Similarly, if you need to attend to a mental, physical, or emotional health crisis, be honest about it instead of fabricating an excuse. Most supervisors should understand if you stress how much you need this time off.
For example, "I won't be coming in today. Something happened with a family member." Or, "I'm having a bad mental health day and need to stay home."
Though you can ask for time off if you're really unable to work, you shouldn't exploit these opportunities, especially if you aren't using PTO or sick time.
Tell your supervisor you need time off for “personal reasons.”
If you need a day off but don’t have a valid reason for why, don’t pretend you’re sick or in an emergency. Fabricating a story puts you at risk of being caught lying. Instead, give your supervisor a succinct message that just says you won’t be coming in.
For example, if you want the day off to go to the beach, don’t tell your supervisor “I have the flu.” This will cause them unnecessary panic.
Instead, politely and concisely say, “I need to take the day off for personal reasons. I’m so sorry. I’ll be in tomorrow.”
Prove you know the importance of your work.
Depending on your field of work, you may be able to negotiate with your supervisor to work extra hours when you’re back. Even if your supervisor declines your offer, it shows that you’re not taking the opportunity for time off for granted.
Depending on your field, you may be able to work extra shifts to cover other people, or work overtime or outside regular hours.
For example, “Thank you for letting me take this time off. If it’s useful, I can work extra hours when I come back.”
Let your supervisor know they can reach you by text or e-mail.
If you’re calling out sick and still getting paid, you might be obligated to work a little from home. Tell your supervisor that they can contact you in case of an emergency or question. This is a considerate offer after unexpectedly inconveniencing them, and proves you aren’t trying to take advantage of them.
For example, “I’ll be staying home today, but please don’t hesitate to reach out via text or e-mail.”
You only need to offer this if you're still on the clock. If you're taking unpaid time off or using PTO, you aren't obligated to keep working.
Give an estimate of how long you’ll be out for illness or emergency.
If you’re calling out of work because you’re sick, you’re probably going to be unable to go in to work for a few days. In this case, let your supervisor know that you’re unsure how long you’ll need, but give a rough estimate and let them know that you’ll keep them updated.
As a rule of thumb, if you’re sick today, you’ll probably need tomorrow off as well.
For example, “I have a cold. To be safe, I won’t be coming in to work today or tomorrow. I’ll keep you updated on how I’m feeling tomorrow.”
Avoid bothering your supervisor at night or during the weekend.
When you’re asking for time off, it’s best to treat it like a business-related request. In other words, don’t bring it up off the clock, when your supervisor might be trying to enjoy their own time off. Stay on your supervisor’s good side by sending a text during work hours.
This is a little different if you wake up and decide you need the day off. In this case, shoot a text as early as you can.
But if you can wait on getting it approved, like you’re requesting time off for the future, send it during regular business hours.
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Jun 29, 2021 · Follow these steps on how to ask for a day off: 1. Look over your employee handbook. Prior to asking for time off, read through your employee handbook. It will likely explain the steps you need to take. When you’re in a salaried position, you typically get a set amount of days you can take off. When you work at an hourly job, these protocols ...
Definition of day off noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
2 meanings: 1. a day on which somebody usually and regularly does not have to work 2. a day on which somebody is allowed not to.... Click for more definitions.
