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9 Best Excuses To Get Out of Work On Short Notice

January 16, 2024

So, you have just gotten a romantic date for the next day, but your boss may not see it as a valid reason to grant you one day's leave. Maybe he never got such a chance, so he can't understand the excitement! What would be the best excuse to get out of work in this situation? We know you have already asked your friends for excuses for taking a day off from the office.

If your friends' excuses don't work wonders for you, don't worry. In this blog, we will help you with nine good reasons for taking a leave from the office that your boss can't deny. Let's discover your best excuse to miss work. And remember, this blog's link shouldn't reach your manager in any case!  

Best Excuses to Miss Work on Short Notice

First, don't feel guilty to take a sudden day off for a valid reason. Because for some toxic bosses, your valid reason may not seem "so valid" to them. So, sometimes, you have to put your own needs first. 

Read more to know 5 Signs of a Toxic Work Environment.

Anyway, these are the best excuses to get out of work and take one day's leave from the office. Even the most authoritarian manager can't argue with these reasons to grant you leave. And rest assured, we've road-tested them all over the years.   

1. Illness or Injury

2. Lady Problems

3. Virtual Relatives Death

4. You Have Some Work at Home

5. Car Breakdown

6. Emotional Breakout

7. You Fall from Stairs

8. Need to Fix You Phone or Laptop

9. Dentist Appointment

So, let's learn how to convey these excuses to get out of work so that they seem authentic to your boss. 

You Have Some Medical Issues

Sick leave is the all-time favourite excuse to take one day's leave from the office. 

Are you feeling peaky? Can't face the office today? Pull one of these excuses out of your back pocket:

"I've come down with a bad bout of the flu overnight. I'm running a temperature and feel like death warmed up. I need to take a day's rest."  

No one wants your germs at work, so they can't force you to come in sneezing everywhere. Just make sure to sound as pathetic as possible on the phone. Sniffle for added effect. 

Moreover, you can make excuses for vague gastrointestinal issues to get out of work. They can't prove you don't have them! Say no more, but imply plenty with a meaningful pause. Sorry for the mental images, boss. 

"I threw my back out badly yesterday, and I can barely walk. Painkillers and muscle relaxants have knocked me out, too. It's rest and hot water bottles for me today!"

If you're going to fake an injury, go hard! No one will doubt a dodgy back. 

Lady Problems - Enough Said

For women, you have the privilege to justify your leave by telling your boss about severe cramps due to periods. Female bosses can understand your condition, and if your boss is a male, he will not argue over menstruation as it is a taboo topic.

All you have to say is this excuse to get out of work:

"I've got severe period cramps and heavy bleeding today. It's one of those months! I'll be stuck in bed with a hot water bottle." 

I mean, what's your boss going to say? "Sorry to hear that, take care of yourself". Any decent human understands period problems. 

When Life Gets In The Way

Use these excuses to take leave from the office when life's curveballs screw your schedule. Use a death excuse of a non-existent old distant relative. And rest assured, you're not crossing the line.

"My grandma died unexpectedly, so I'm dealing with grieving family all day. I was so close to her, too; it's tough right now. I need to be there for them."

No one's going to argue with grieving over Grandma's passing! Slap on your best mournful voice and take all the time you need!

You Have Some Work at Home

"The plumber is coming to fix a burst pipe at 9 am. The whole house nearly flooded, so it's serious. I'll be stuck there making sure it goes smoothly."

How is this excuse to get out of work????? Busted pipes = big-time emergency! No one will mind if you peace out to handle the chaos. Throw in a frazzled tone and some choice curses about the damage.

Car Breakdown

 "My car broke down on the highway! Waiting for the tow truck now. I'll probably be getting it fixed at the mechanic's all morning." 

Play up how stranded you feel with the car troubles. Your boss doesn't need to know you Uber'd home to snuggle with Netflix instead! 

"My car got a flat tire this morning, and I still need to get it swapped out and make it to work. The day's pretty much a bust at this point!"

Car issues are always a solid excuse to leave work for a day. Just take some sad, flat tire selfies to back up your story! 

When You Need Some 'You Time'

Mental health is important too! Don't feel bad calling in for some much-needed self-care:

"I'm having a rough time emotionally today and can't face people. I need to take a personal day for my mental health." 

Most good bosses will understand that you need a break for your sanity. After all, they can't have you sobbing over spreadsheets all day!  

You Fall from The Stairs
"I slipped down the stairs this morning and banged myself up. It's nothing serious, but I'm too shaken up to come in. I need a day to recover emotionally."

Even if the fall wasn't bad, play up how distressing it was! No one expects you will know the absolute truth. So you can consider this excuse to miss work. 

When Technological Mayhem Strikes 
We've all been there - everything electronic decides to crap out on you all at once. Don't let tech problems make you late for work! Try these excuses: 

"My stupid phone died overnight, and the alarm didn't go off. I woke up late in a mad panic. Still trying to get my life together now!" 

Play up how disorganized and frenzied you feel after the phone fails. Most people have been victims of a dead phone battery at some point! 

"Something's up with my laptop, and it won't connect to the internet or print anything. Without it, I can't prep for my presentation, so I'll head to the Apple store instead."

 "Something's wrong with my computer" excuses are hard to argue. After all, you need the thing to work! 

Got an Appointment with Your Dentist
Sometimes, you need a minute to get life stuff done! Bust out these excuses to take a one-day leave from the office.

"I have to get my tooth filled at the dentist at 11. It'll take a few hours since it's a big procedure. I'll be pretty useless afterwards, too!"

Dentist appointments are air-tight excuses your boss can't question. Try not to use it too often!  

Wrap Up
Listen, life gets chaotic sometimes, and you need a day to catch your breath. Take time for yourself! Now, you've got nine solid excuses to make it happen without judgment. 

And most importantly, if you're working in such a toxic organization where you need to beg for just a one-day leave, it's time to switch up! Search for new jobs easily at Xcruit now. 

Xcruit is an advanced job search platform that enables you to find career opportunities with advanced features such as CV parsing, a video resume option, EQ-Competency Analysis through xVerse, an in-app quiz with a global business insights leaderboard, and live chat for direct communication with employers.  

Sign up for Xcruit today - an AI-powered job search platform to explore employment opportunities across various industries.

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Unexpected emergency? Here are 9 clever excuses to get out of work on short notice without causing suspicion.