How to call out of work at the last minute

• Check your company's policy for calling out of work. Some companies require you to call out a certain amount of time in advance, while others may have a specific process you need to follow.

• Contact your supervisor or manager as soon as possible. Be honest and straightforward about why you need to call out, but keep it professional.

• Have a good excuse as to why you are calling out (see potential excuses below)

• Offer to help find a replacement work or cover your shift if possible.

• Follow up with an email or written note to confirm your absence and any steps you have taken to help cover your responsibilities.

Remember, calling out of work should be a last resort and not something you do frequently or without good reason. You don't want to be the person that no one can count on because they are always calling out sick at the last minute.

If you do have to call out, here are some potential excuses you can use:

• You're sick. Telling your boss you're feeling sick is one of the simplest and best ways to miss work on short notice because of the factors above.

• You're caring for a sick child or family member. Family emergencies happen and most employers will understand and be sympathetic when you call in sick for a medical reason

• You have a family emergency. A family emergency is one of the best reasons to call out of work because you usually won't face many follow-up questions and won't have to go into too much detail

• You have food poisoning. This is one of the most legitimate and believable excuses to miss work, especially the day of your shift, since most people understand how serious and unexpected food poisoning can be.

• You have a migraine. A migraine is another good excuse for missing a full day of work with only a small chance you'll be questioned about it since most managers know how severe migraines can be.

• You have to care for a sick pet. To use this excuse, simply let your employer know that your pet isn't feeling well and that you're going to need to go to an emergency vet appointment or stay with them while you give them medication.

• Last-minute colonoscopy or other medical procedure. This is a good one as your employer will not want to ask a lot of questions about it.

• You're having car trouble. This is best if there's no other way for you to get into the workplace, and if you only need to miss work for one day. After a day, your boss may start pressuring you about finding alternative transportation.

• Household emergency. You can also say that there's a house-related issue that requires you to remain home. For example, you could say that you have a leaky water pipe and you need to stay on hand until the repair person finishes. Or you could say you're expecting an important delivery and the delivery company said you need to sign for the package in person today. This excuse is your oyster - go with whatever feels right.