Calling sick at work can be very tough, especially when you have set goals or targets to achieve. It might sound easy to say I’ve got diarrhea amongst your peers, but there’s a thin line on how to professionally tell your boss you have diarrhea.
You might be concerned that your absence makes you seem unreliable. The reality is we are humans, and life happens.
Do you need to call your boss and tell them you can’t come to work because you have diarrhea? Don’t you feel embarrassed? Don’t feel bad. You’re not alone.
Diarrhea can be very uncomfortable and can disorganize your day. Usually, this occurrence can be short-term except when it is acute and can last for weeks.
this article introduces to simple method on how to professionally tell your boss you have diarrhea by informing you of its causes and symptoms you should know.
What Is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is passing loose, watery, or more frequent stool than usual for you. Diarrhea can span from mild to life-threatening, and diarrhea shouldn’t be handled carelessly.
Diarrhea is prevalent and can last 1-2 days, as the case may be. Diarrhea may be either short-term(acute) or long-term (chronic).
Acute diarrhea might last 1-2 days, while chronic diarrhea lasts for several weeks.
What Causes Diarrhea
Many things can cause diarrhea, and you should know the Cause. Reading this article will expand your knowledge of the illness and teach you how to professionally tell your boss you have diarrhea when you see the cause.
- Allergies to certain food
- A virus
- A bacterial infection
- Trouble absorbing some certain nutrients(malabsorption)
- Some antibiotics
- Some cancers
- Trouble digesting certain foods
- Parasitic infections
Symptoms of Diarrhea
The main symptoms of diarrhea are loose, watery stools and pressing bowel movements. Other symptoms may include;
- Nausea and throwing up
- Bloating in your belly
- Fever
- Bloody stools
- Abdominal pain
- Dehydration
How to Professionally Tell Your Boss You Have Diarrhea
Send a Formal Mail Attaching the Doctor’s Report to the Company’s Email
If you have to miss work, there must be a legitimate reason. Instead of just calling your boss and telling them you won’t be available for work, you can send an email too. This way, you can relax and get into proper details.
Just inform your boss of the condition and tell them you will take a sick day to handle the situation. You can also inform them of the steps you will take to ensure you get the workflow in the office on time.
Follow Up to Know if You Can Work From Home
Show your boss how dedicated you are to your job. No matter the illness’s harm, show a willingness to use an excellent alternative to contribute to your quota.
For example, “Good morning, sir/ma. I have a little running stomach but can work from home. I have my laptop at home, and I can submit my report by Friday”.
Don’t Go Into Detail
Many people get carried away by the illness and start giving so much detail about the situation, which is not so ethical in a professional setting.
This topic is critical; try not to give your boss a graphical image of the whole thing. You can tell them you have a disease with the same symptom as diarrhea. For example, “I have stomach flu and can’t come to work.”
Inform Co-workers
Diarrhea comes when you least expect it; if you don’t have good knowledge of your body system, you might eat something that causes it.
You might be a new staff and need to learn how to professionally tell your boss you have diarrhea. An easy way is to inform a colleague you’re friendly with, someone that’s effective enough to relate the situation to your boss.
While you plan on sending a formal email, your colleague might help patch things up.
Give an Appraisal on How soon You Can Return to Work
An excellent side to taking sick leave at work is assuring your boss that you will be back on a specific date. There are many ways to say this, but ensure they are kept up-to-date.
Give some words of encouragement even if you’re unsure if you” ll stop being sick, letting them know there’s no need to hire someone else.
Seek Care Immediately
It doesn’t stop at knowing how to professionally tell your boss you have diarrhea. You should know the steps to treat and prevent frequent occurrences.
Avoid diarrhea from food poisoning by washing cooking utensils and the kitchen frequently. You stand the risk of diarrhea if you ignore good hygiene.
Visit your doctor as soon as possible they will diagnose the seriousness of the situation.
How to Say Diarrhea Nicely
If you want to inform your boss or any superior colleague about diarrhea and don’t want to make the person feel irritated, they are easier ways to put it that wouldn’t sound explicit.
- I have a stomach bug.
- I have an awful stomach upset.
- I have been visiting the bathroom a lot today.
- I can’t keep anything in today.
- I have a digestive upset.
Other Acceptable Reasons to Call in Sick
Contagious Illness
Protecting the health of your co-workers should be a priority. If you have a contagious disease like pink eye, coughing, flu, etc., you can pass it on to your colleagues.
Prevent further outbreaks by calling your boss and informing them about the condition as soon as possible.
Pregnancy or Delivery
Sometimes it is best to call your boss if you can’t come to work due to pregnancy-related issues or the delivery date is near.
Loss of a Loved One
Losing a loved one can sometimes be mentally drowning and reduce your productivity at work. Sometimes it hinders effective communication with co-workers; with the company’s interest in mind, it will be good to call in sick at work, stating the situation to your superior.
Conclusion
There’s no need to be shy about diarrhea. Some people can be timid when sharing their health status; it shouldn’t reduce self-esteem. Life happens to everybody, and diarrhea is just one of those things we don’t pray for, but it just occurs.
If you feel you should do it more professionally, these “five easy ways how to professionally tell your boss you have diarrhea” should come in handy.
