Here's How To Write The Perfect Sick-Day Email

We're all human, and sometimes we get sick. It's a practically inevitable that at some point you won't be able to go to work because of an illness.

Sick days are important — not just to make sure you take time to heal your body but also to ensure you're not spreading your germs around at work — but there is still a lot of guilt and hesitance around taking them.

In fact, recent statistics suggest that one in five American workers took zero sick days last year. These trends are linked to rising concerns that many workers are coming into work when they really shouldn't be.

Of course, paid sick days are a luxury afforded to few Americans. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 31% of American workers with average wages in the lowest 10% had access to paid sick days, illustrating a troubling lack of access to fair labor practices.

So, if you have the ability to take a sick day — especially if it's paid — you absolutely should. And you shouldn't need to feel stressed about it. Being able to write a straight-forward email can make the process more bearable. Below are a few things to keep in mind when writing a sick-day email:

Sometimes we can feel a cold coming, other times an illness can sneak up on us without warning. Regardless, make sure you notify your boss as soon as you suspect you'll need to take a day off to help alleviate any logistical challenges.

It can be tempting to recount the horrors of your current state — your high fever, the length of your current migraine, how many hours you spent on the floor of the bathroom — but your manager really doesn't need to know these things. Plus, it can set a slippery precedent for qualifying the legitimacy of a sick day. Simply stating that you'll need to stay home due to an illness is enough.

No matter what your relationship with your manager is like, make sure your email subject is straightforward. A simple subject line like: "Sick day," or "Sick today," should suffice.

Every work culture is different, some places require and expect employees to be 'on' even if they're sick — which could include periodically checking Slack or work emails — others may not expect a thing. You know your workplace best, so be clear in your email about how available you'll be.

If you're semi-coherent and want to stay in the loop, let your manager know. If you're in a Nyquil-induced stupor, it's probably best for everyone if you stay offline. Also, if you have a hunch you'll need more than one day out, make sure you address that in your email and let your manager know that you'll follow up about your state.

Even if you work in an understanding office, missing a day of work can bring about a few hiccups, especially if you're missing a meeting or something else that could affect pre-existing timelines.

Keeping this in mind, it may be helpful to acknowledge anything that you might be missing and either delegate to someone else or make sure you clarify that you'll be able to pick up the slack once you're back in the office. This will not only help your team, but will also demonstrate that you're thoughtful and proactive.

Never mind the germs that you'd be bringing in if you're sick — which could potentially knock out more of your colleagues — taking the time to care for yourself and heal whatever it is that you're dealing with is, in the long-run, better for your team and your company. Going into work when you're sick doesn't make you a hero — it means you're probably not going to be doing your best, most productive work while also putting your teammates at risk.