Employee calling in sick for work? Here's everything you need to know

You just got the dreaded call or text. An employee calls in sick at work - he doesn't come today and your meticulously planned work schedule has just vanished. You need a plan B, and fast.

Employee sick leave is inevitable, but how do you respond when an employee calls in sick? And more importantly, what can you do to minimize the impact on your business?

Having a clear plan in place, including sick leave policies and understanding employee rights when sick, can help turn the stress of sick days into business success.

> What are sick days and when do employees take them?

Sick days are days when an employee takes the day off to rest and recuperate.

In some cases, sick days are also referred to as personal days, during which employees take time off to care for family members or to schedule medical appointments. For some employers this is an acceptable use of the day, but other employers may have stipulations, not always legal, on when and why an employee who becomes sick at work may take a official sick day. Sick days are different from other types of employee absences, even unapproved absences.

The actual definition of a sick day can vary from employer to employer. But in most situations, a sick day refers to when an employee is personally too sick to come to work. An employee calling in sick is usually an impulsive decision when struck by an unexpected illness.

Of course, getting sick is unfortunately a part of life. But when we get really sick, we usually aren't able to be the best version of ourselves, let alone go to work. At this point, it's time to take a sick day. Especially for people who come into contact with other humans and/or food, such as restaurant workers, child care staff, or cooks, it's important to have a strong vacation policy. disease in place so they don't spread the disease.

How often should you expect employees to get sick at work?

Employees calling in sick at work can interfere with your schedule and planning. And last-minute shift changes can be frustrating for you and your team.

Unfortunately, how often you can expect your employees to get sick at work has no simple answer. It may depend on your industry, work environment, and even your sick leave policies. But we've found some information about sick days that can help you with your planning.

Spoiler alert: On average, employees tend to take fewer days than you might think.

According to a 2020 Statista survey, a quarter of respondents had not taken any sick leave in the previous year. And of those that did, most only took 2-3 days. In industries like restaurants, where only 15% of employees get paid sick leave, the sick days taken are often lower.

That being said, sick days have become normalized over the past few years. In fact, 2022 saw the highest number of illness-related absences since 1976, with over 19 million absences for the year.

Paid sick leave

The COVID-19 pandemic certainly played a role. The highly contagious nature of the coronavirus has highlighted the impact even a sick employee can have on customers and other employees. At the height of the pandemic, a sick employee could shut down a business for days or even weeks.

Since the pandemic, more companies have recognized the value of paid sick leave, making it easier for employees to take time off to recuperate. Even better, it reduces the risk of disease spreading between employees and customers, and helps employees perform better.

The number of sick days on your team will ultimately depend on your employees and their tolerance for taking a day off. So keep in mind that some employees may need to take more or less time off than others.

When should you cover an employee's sick day?

The short answer? Almost always.

The long answer? You should plan to cover their sick leave whenever an employee's absence may negatively impact your business and customer experience.

An employee calling in sick can also have more impact than...