A Sample Letter to the Employer for Sick Leave To Help You Secure Time Off

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Here Is a Sample Letter to the Employer for Sick Leave

What happens if you fall ill and can’t make it to work? Every company maintains its own policies on sick leave procedures. While in most companies you can call in sick by phone, it’s a good idea to send a formal letter. An official letter ensures that your employer has a record of the days you will be absent.

This guide will provide you with a sample letter to the employer for sick leave, but you can always skip the hard work and create the letter for you within a few minutes.

Sick Leave Laws

Before composing and sending your leave request letter, you should double-check the following:

Sick Leave LawsExplanation
Applicable state and federal lawsYou may be eligible for sick leave based on:
  1. The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) if you are diagnosed with COVID-19
  2. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) if you work for an eligible company—typically, one with 50 or more employees
  3. City or state laws (if there are any)
Company's policiesYour employer can require additional details if you intend to take more than three days of sick leave, such as:

Sick Leave Laws Across Different States

While not every state has unpaid or paid sick leave laws, some do. Understanding the applicable laws can help you write an effective letter.

Check the table below for information about paid sick leave laws in the following states:

OhioArizonaPennsylvania
MichiganFloridaVirginia
TexasMarylandCalifornia
North CarolinaRhode IslandNew York
GeorgiaMaineNevada
WashingtonColoradoVermont
New JerseyDistrict of ColumbiaMassachusetts
OregonConnecticut

A Sample Letter to the Employer for Sick Leave

When writing a sick leave request letter to the manager, keep the following in mind:

  • Send the letter as soon as possible
  • Don’t disclose all the details of your illness
  • State what days you won’t come to work clearly
  • Apologize for the work-related inconveniences you’ll cause
  • Promise to be at your best when you resume working

Here is a sick leave request sample letter that you can send to your employer:

Dear [name of the supervisor],

I'm writing to inform you that I need to take sick leave from October 12 through 25 because of severe back pain. My physician recommended that I take this time off to rest and recover. I have enclosed the doctor's note with this letter. I apologize for the inconveniences that my absence will cause and look forward to returning to the office upon recovery. I will complete any pending projects from home whenever possible and do my best to catch up when I get back to work.

Please inform me if there is any other additional document that you may require in regards to my sick leave.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

[Your name/signature]

Get the Best Sick Leave Letter in a Few Minutes Using DoNotPay

Don't waste time trying to come up with the right phrasing and finding the applicable state laws to call upon! You might end up being too late to inform your employer of your leave and risk being forced to work when sick or even getting fired.

DoNotPay can help you avoid those problems, check the applicable laws, and create a personalized sick leave letter for you in less than five minutes.

All you need to do is and:

  1. Search for the Request Sick Leave tool
  2. Type the name of the state where you work
  3. Enter the dates you will be absent
  4. Select if you want DoNotPay to:
    1. Forward the request letter to your employer directly
    2. Send it to your personal email

Has Your Employer Wronged You? Sue Them in Small Claims Court With DoNotPay

If you are sick at work and your employer denies you sick leave or fires you unlawfully, you can sue them using DoNotPay’s Small Claims Court tool. DoNotPay will help you:

  1. Create a demand letter
  2. Initiate a lawsuit
  3. Collect the necessary paperwork
  4. Create an argument script that you can use in court

How Can DoNotPay Tackle Tricky Tasks for You?

Using DoNotPay is like having a magic wand that helps you with the assignments you are too busy or bored to do. Here are some procedures we can simplify for you:

Keeping in Touch Is Simple With Our App

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