Boomer sick leave rule Aussie workers no longer follow: ‘Rude’

There was once a time when Aussie workers would “never dream” of texting their boss that they were too sick to come into work. But one expert told Yahoo Finance this was now the “done” thing for many workers, as more and more of our work and communication shifts online.

Workplace Culture and leadership expert Tammy Tansley said a “sick text” to your boss would have been considered “extremely inappropriate” and even “rude” in the past. Many workers were expected to “prove” they were sick by calling up their boss on the phone instead.

Tansley said the process for calling in sick had now changed, particularly for younger workers, with sending a text now the norm, along with using messaging apps like Slack and Teams. She said there were benefits and drawbacks to the new approach.

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“You don’t need to worry about whether your manager picks up the phone or is available. And you can now schedule your texts to arrive at a more reasonable time even if they’re sent in the middle of the night,” she told Yahoo Finance.

“It also creates a written chain, which can be important.”

Tansley said a text message could also reduce the potential for “uncomfortable questions” and make the “interaction easier” for those who aren’t a fan of phone calls.

“For many workplaces, posting a message on Teams, Slack, can be an effective way of letting the whole team know that you’re out of action,” she added.

For employers, though, Tansley said “sick texts” rather than phone calls could mean it is easier for workers to chuck a sickie.

“This makes sense, as you have to make up that cough or sound a bit sick, which, for many people, they find more difficult than just sending a message,” she said.

“The other disadvantage is that it means that the manager can’t really check in to see if the absenteeism is related to something at work.”

What is the correct protocol for calling in sick?

This will ultimately depend on your workplace’s protocol or policy. That policy will often also say what evidence you need when calling in sick, such as a doctor’s certificate or statutory declaration.

“Sometimes that policy will say that you need to call and speak to your manager if at all possible, rather than texting or emailing, leaving a message on voicemail or with a colleague,” Tansley said.

“Or it will say you need to call in advance of your shift starting.”

If you don’t have a policy or it doesn’t specify how or when to notify your boss, Tansley said the best port of call was speaking to your manager.

Rules and policies aside, the experts were divided on whether or not a "sick text" was appropriate.

Superior People Recruitment founder Graham Wynn said it would depend on the time of day.

“If you send me an early text, I’ve got no issue with that whatsoever. But if it’s gone 9 o’clock then a text is not appropriate because people are there, you can ring up,” he told Yahoo Finance.

“If the night before you are feeling really bad and you’re not sure if you’ll be ok the following day, send me a text. That’s acceptable because you’re outside working hours.”

But if you are calling in within or close to working hours, he reckons there is “no excuse not to pick up the phone unless you’ve got laryngitis of course”.

Fellow recruiter Tammie Christofis Ballis said a phone call was still the most appropriate way to call in sick to work.

“In my opinion, I’m a Millennial, I’m 37 years old, you need to give them a phone call. Call in the morning because it is more professional,” she told Yahoo Finance.

“They can hear when you’re sick and it just doesn't come across that you’re lying. But in saying that, I’ve met some managers that don’t care that they get a text.”

Ultimately, Ballis said what was appropriate would depend on your work’s HR policy and your relationship with your manager.

Tansley agreed and said if you typically communicate with your boss via text, then a "sick text" would probably be fine.

"If not, it’s safer to give them a quick call," she said.

Give as much notice as possible

Wynn said you should give your employer as much notice as possible if you were planning to take a sick day.

“There’s no office acceptable timeframe but there are expectations that 5 minutes before you usually start your day is not acceptable,” he said.

Tansley said it was best to check if your policy, award or agreement specified the notice required.

“Usually, it’s before the shift or day starts if at all possible. Or as soon as possible after,” she said.

“From an employee perspective, be clear on what your employer requires of you. If it’s not specified anywhere, make sure you have a conversation with your boss in advance of any absenteeism to know what they prefer.”

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