Sick Leave Letter


Sick leave letter is a formal document written by an employee to his/her employer requesting for a leave because of sickness. A well written sick leave letter will convey information about your unfortunate situation to the employer so that adequate measures can be taken.

In a Sick Leave Letter, the details of the illness are explained in a brief manner and it also does state, for what period of time you won’t be able to make yourself available for work at the office. Documents validating the medical reasons specified in the letter are often enclosed with such a letter.

A Sick Leave may be taken by an employee as and when required and could be for any short illness, for example when a day off is required to recover from malaria, a cold or flu. In such cases,  subject to the Employee's Compensation Act of Nigeria, workers are entitled to a maximum of twelve working days of paid sick leave.

Find below, sample application letters for sick leave.

Sick Leave Letter sample 1

[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Department]
[Date]

[Supervisor’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]

Subject: Request for Sick Leave

Dear [Supervisor’s Name],

I am writing to inform you that I am unwell and need to request sick leave from [Start Date] to [End Date]. I am experiencing [briefly describe illness, if comfortable, e.g., "flu symptoms" or "severe migraine"] and have been advised by my doctor to take rest for a full recovery.

I apologize for the short notice and any inconvenience this may cause. I will do my best to complete any urgent tasks remotely if my condition allows, and I am available to provide updates on my status as needed. Should my recovery take longer than expected, I will promptly notify you and provide a medical certificate if required.

Thank you for your understanding, and I appreciate your support during this time.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]

Sick Leave Letter sample 2

[Your Name]
[Your Position]
[Department]
[Date]

[Supervisor’s Name]
[Company Name]
[Company Address]

Subject: Request for Sick Leave

Dear [Supervisor’s Name],

I am writing this letter to inform you that I need to take a sick leave from work due to a severe throat infection. I will need to remain off work  from [Leave Start Date] until [Leave End Date], bringing my total sick leave to one week.

A letter from my doctor is attached to confirm I need the time off to properly recover without risking my health or the health of my co-workers. I apologize for any inconvenience due to my absence from work.

I should, however, be able to occasionally check my email and do some work, including a few projects I had almost completed before becoming sick, from home when possible until I come back to the office. When I return on [Return Date], I fully intend to do my best to catch up on any work I missed during my absence. Please let me know if you need further verification from my doctor. If I should require additional time off, I will let you know as soon as possible.

Feel free to contact me at your convenience should you have any questions or require clarification regarding my sick leave request. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]