Feeling sick is uncomfortable enough — but informing your boss can add extra stress. Choosing the right words helps you stay professional while clearly communicating your situation. Whether it’s sudden illness, migraine, food poisoning, or doctor-recommended rest, knowing what to say ensures smooth and respectful workplace communication.
This article provides 17+ polite, concise, and ready-to-send sick text messages you can copy and use immediately. You’ll also find short messages, funny lines, poetic messages, and helpful tips for writing your own.
1. Sick Leave Messages for Sudden Illness
Heartfelt Messages
- “Good morning. I’m feeling unwell today and won’t be able to come in. Thank you for understanding.”
- “I’ve developed a sudden fever and need rest. Requesting sick leave today.”
- “I’m experiencing flu-like symptoms and need to recover.”
- “I’m too unwell to work effectively today. Thank you for your support.”
- “I apologize for the short notice — I’m feeling very ill today.”
- “Sudden illness has made me unable to come in. Requesting leave for today.”
- “Woke up really sick and must take a sick day.”
- “Feeling very unwell today — taking sick leave.”
Funny Messages
- “My body has declared a strike… sick leave requested.”
- “Woke up feeling like I fought a kangaroo. Out sick!”
- “My immune system is buffering. I’ll be offline today.”
- “Too sneezy to function. Taking a sick day!”
- “The germs won today. I surrender.”
- “Fever’s high enough to grill bread — taking leave!”
- “I’m a walking cough machine. Staying home.”
- “I feel like 3% battery with no charger. Sick day needed.”
2. Sick Messages for Flu
Heartfelt Messages
- “I’m down with the flu and need to rest today.”
- “High fever and flu symptoms — taking sick leave.”
- “Doctor advised rest due to flu. I’ll be off today.”
- “Experiencing severe flu symptoms and can’t work.”
- “Flu symptoms worsened overnight. Requesting leave.”
- “I’m too unwell to work today because of the flu.”
- “Taking today off to recover from the flu.”
- “Flu hit hard — I’ll keep you updated.”
Funny Messages
- “Currently starring in my own flu episode. Out sick!”
- “Sneezing every 5 seconds — it’s a full-time job. Sick day!”
- “Flu mode: activated. Productivity: deactivated.”
- “I sound like a broken trumpet today. Taking leave.”
- “Joined the flu club. Hoping for early retirement.”
- “Running on soup and tissue boxes today.”
- “My flu is louder than my alarm clock. Staying home.”
- “Feeling like a walking tissue ad.”
3. Sick Messages Requesting Work-from-Home
Heartfelt Messages
- “I’m slightly unwell but can work from home if that’s okay.”
- “Unable to come to the office but available remotely.”
- “Feeling under the weather — requesting WFH today.”
- “Mild sickness today, but I can manage work from home.”
- “Not fit to commute but capable of online work.”
- “If suitable, may I work from home today?”
- “Light illness today — requesting remote work.”
- “Able to work from home but too sick for the office.”
Funny Messages
- “Too sick for the office, healthy enough for Zoom. WFH?”
- “Sneezing like an orchestra — safer to WFH.”
- “I’ll save the team by keeping my germs at home. Requesting WFH.”
- “Mildly sick, but laptop says I’m fine. Work from home?”
- “Coughing every 3 seconds — WFH may save humanity.”
- “Throat on strike. Remote work might help!”
- “Better at home than starting an office epidemic.”
- “The germs stay here if I stay here. WFH requested!”
4. Sick Messages for Doctor-Advised Rest / Long-Term Illness
Heartfelt Messages
- “My doctor advised rest for a few days. Requesting leave.”
- “I’m undergoing treatment and need time off to recover.”
- “Medical advice requires me to rest for several days.”
- “Doctor instructed strict rest — requesting leave.”
- “Focusing on recovery as per doctor’s orders.”
- “I need extended sick leave due to health concerns.”
- “Following medical instructions to rest. Will update soon.”
- “Healing requires time and rest — requesting leave.”
Funny Messages
- “Doctor says rest. I said, ‘Gladly!’ Sick leave it is.”
- “Operating on low-power mode… healing in progress.”
- “Doctor prescribed naps. I’m obeying.”
- “Recovery mode: ON. Work mode: OFF.”
- “My body is downloading the new version — update in progress.”
- “Temporarily out of service. Please try again later.”
- “Healing like a slow-loading webpage.”
- “Doctor said rest, and my body said, ‘About time.’”
5. Messages for Stomach Issues / Food Poisoning
Heartfelt Messages
- “I’m dealing with severe stomach issues and need a sick day.”
- “Food poisoning has made me very ill — requesting leave.”
- “Experiencing intense stomach cramps and unable to work.”
- “My stomach is very upset — taking a sick day.”
- “Too sick to come in due to stomach problems.”
- “Stomach illness has me unable to work today.”
- “Food-related sickness — will rest today.”
- “Requesting sick leave due to severe stomach discomfort.”
Funny Messages
- “My stomach declared war today. Sick leave needed.”
- “Food poisoning: the sequel no one wanted. Staying home.”
- “My digestive system is currently confused. Taking leave.”
- “Too sick to move, too embarrassed to explain. Stomach issues!”
- “Let’s just say the food won the battle.”
- “My stomach is auditioning for a horror film.”
- “Running… but not to work.”
- “Stomach said no. Brain agreed. Taking leave.”
6. Messages for Migraine / Severe Headache
Heartfelt Messages
- “I’m down with a severe migraine and need the day off.”
- “Strong headache today — unable to work.”
- “Migraine hit badly; will rest today.”
- “Unable to focus due to migraine.”
- “Taking sick leave due to intense headache.”
- “Migraine symptoms are severe — resting today.”
- “Experiencing a bad migraine and can’t work.”
- “Migraine preventing me from working today.”
Funny Messages
- “My head is hosting a rock concert. Sick leave, please.”
- “Brain says ‘nope.’ Going offline.”
- “Headache is louder than my thoughts.”
- “My brain is buffering. Sick day needed.”
- “Migraines should be illegal — I’m out.”
- “My head feels like a drumline. Taking leave.”
- “Currently experiencing a dramatic headache.”
- “Brain on strike. I’m out today.”
7. Messages for COVID/Contagious Symptoms
Heartfelt Messages
- “I’m experiencing symptoms and staying home for safety.”
- “Feeling very unwell and possibly contagious — taking leave.”
- “Tested positive; requesting sick leave.”
- “Will isolate today due to symptoms.”
- “Feeling extremely sick — staying home as a precaution.”
- “I’ll rest today to avoid exposing others.”
- “Requesting leave due to contagious symptoms.”
- “Following safety guidelines — off today.”
Funny Messages
- “I promise to keep my germs at home. Taking sick leave.”
- “Contagious mode is on. Office mode is off.”
- “Feeling like a walking virus emoji.”
- “Germs are partying too loudly — staying home.”
- “My cough scares even me. Sick day!”
- “Avoiding the office germ-apocalypse today.”
- “Sneezing like a malfunctioning sprinkler.”
- “Immune system is still on vacation.”
8. Messages After Surgery / Medical Procedure
Heartfelt Messages
- “I’m recovering from a procedure and unable to work today.”
- “Post-surgery rest is necessary — requesting leave.”
- “Healing from surgery requires a few more days.”
- “Still recovering — unable to resume work yet.”
- “Rest is needed after my medical procedure.”
- “Doctor advised recovery time post-surgery.”
- “In healing mode — taking leave.”
- “Post-surgery rest still needed today.”
Funny Messages
- “My body is rebooting after surgery — loading slowly.”
- “Currently operating at sloth speed.”
- “Healing mode activated. Productivity disabled.”
- “Bandages 90%, energy 10%.”
- “Doctor said rest; I said absolutely.”
- “Recovering and hoping for fast reboot!”
- “More naps needed — doctor-approved.”
- “Will return once my body finishes loading.”
9. Short & Quick Sick Messages
- “I’m unwell today and need a sick day.”
- “Feeling sick — unable to come in.”
- “Taking sick leave today.”
- “Running a fever; resting at home.”
- “Not feeling well; taking the day off.”
- “Sick today. Thank you for understanding.”
- “Unable to work due to illness.”
- “Taking a sick day to recover.”
10. Poetic / Blessing-Style Sick Messages
- “Today I rest so tomorrow I can rise stronger.”
- “Letting healing work quietly through the day.”
- “Pausing today so my strength can return.”
- “Rest is my medicine today.”
- “Healing asks for time — and I’m giving it.”
- “Taking a gentle day to restore my energy.”
- “May rest renew me for tomorrow’s work.”
11. Tips for Writing a Personal Sick Message
- Keep it short and professional.
- Mention your illness briefly without details.
- Clarify if you’re unavailable or partially available.
- Offer WFH only if you truly can manage it.
- Thank your boss for understanding.
- Inform them early in the day.
- Follow company policy for doctor’s notes.
- Use a polite, calm tone.
- Avoid humor unless your boss is informal.
12. Responsible Things to Do When Taking a Sick Day
- Set an out-of-office email reply.
- Notify coworkers who may need urgent info.
- Share critical files before resting.
- Communicate your expected return if known.
- Prioritize rest instead of working secretly.
- Stay hydrated and follow medical advice.
13. FAQs
1. Should I text or email my boss when sick?
Follow workplace policy. If unsure, text is okay for urgent notice.
2. How early should I send the message?
As early as possible — before work hours begin.
3. Do I need to explain my symptoms?
A brief mention (fever, flu, stomach issue) is enough.
4. Should I offer to work from home?
Only if you genuinely can and your role allows it.
5. Is humor okay in a sick message?
Only if your boss is casual or friendly. Otherwise, stay professional.
Warm Closing Note
I hope these 17+ messages help you feel more confident when informing your boss about sick days. You can copy, paste, personalize, and use them anytime. If you found this helpful, share it with someone who might need ready-made sick messages too. Wishing you a swift and peaceful recovery! 🌿💛
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