Writing a Clear Absence Note to an Employer
A casual worker at a supermarket is rostered for a four-hour shift on Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. On Friday evening they develop a fever and a persistent cough. Their workplace policy says: "Casual staff must notify their shift supervisor at least four hours before the start of a shift if they cannot attend. Notification must be by phone or in writing. A medical certificate is required for absences longer than two consecutive shifts." The worker has one Saturday shift only. They want to send a short written message to the supervisor.
1. Write a short message (3–5 sentences) the worker could send to the supervisor. It must meet the policy requirements and be clear and polite.
Read the worked answer
A strong message includes: who is writing, which shift, the reason, and confirmation of notification timing.
Example: "Hi Sam, this is Alex, writing to let you know I won't be able to work my Saturday shift (10:00 am–2:00 pm) because I have a fever and cough and don't want to risk passing it on. I'm sending this on Friday evening, which is more than four hours before the shift starts. Please let me know if you need anything else from me. Thanks, Alex."
This meets the policy because it is in writing and sent well before the four-hour deadline. It is clear and polite, and it names the specific shift.
2. Explain whether the worker needs to provide a medical certificate in this case, referring to the policy.
Read the worked answer
The policy requires a medical certificate only for absences longer than two consecutive shifts. This worker is missing one shift only, which is fewer than two consecutive shifts.
Therefore a medical certificate is not required by the policy. The worker should still notify the supervisor on time, but no certificate is needed. If the illness continued and the worker missed three or more shifts in a row, a certificate would then be required.