Write an article based on this "Call your boss or supervisor early the next morning. Make sure you sound sick. Be prepared for questions. End the conversation on a good note."
Don't delay––the sooner you tell your boss, the better. Additionally, you'll have a rather rough voice after waking up, giving you that added credibility. Plus, if you call early, you may be more likely to get your boss’s voicemail or to catch your boss when he’s off guard. If you call too late, then it’ll look like you didn’t really consider your boss’s feelings.  Keep the conversation short. Though knowing your “illness” well can help you feel prepared, you should remember that stories are typically the embellishment told by liars. Don't get too detailed––just say that you're not feeling well and won't be coming in. Give just enough information for your boss to believe you, such as saying "I was up all night" or "I'm having awful stomach problems." You can also say something like, “I knew I should have said something at the end of the day yesterday, but I was hoping I would sleep this thing off.” Without being too obvious about it, make a point of showing how much you really hoped you would come to work. While you shouldn’t overdo it when you call your boss, it won’t hurt you to actually sound a little sick. In addition to having a hoarse voice from calling early in the morning, you can sniffle or cough very occasionally so your boss thinks you’re sick without having to overdo it. You can also talk a little more slowly or softly to show that you don’t have your full strength. Practice this act aloud so it sounds convincing.  If you want to make your voice sound extra hoarse, you can scream into a pillow for ten seconds or so before you make the call. But this will hurt your throat, so make sure it’s worth it.  You can also just try to sound a little bit out of it and disoriented. If you sound extra sharp and are super snappy to answer any question your boss has, you may not be very convincing as a sick person. Is your boss the nosy type? Try to imagine what kinds of questions he or she might have. For instance, if you work in food service, your boss might wonder how contagious you are. He or she might also ask if you've tried everything possible to make yourself feel well enough to come in. The best policy is to say that you think you're contagious, and that you've tried every remedy you can muster (painkillers, antacids, more liquids, etc.) but all to no avail. Casually mention you've called your doctor's office and are waiting to hear back on an appointment time as they're booked out. During peak cold and flu seasons, it may be several days before they could squeeze you in for an office visit. If your employer demands a note after you get back, you can always say your appointment isn't until later in the week. It gives you time to run to the doctor. When you get done talking to your boss, try to leave a positive impression as much as you can. Say that you’ll do your best to recover to come to work the next day and that you’re grateful that your boss can be so understanding. Show how committed you are to the job and how eager you are to return to your responsibilities without overdoing it. Make your boss feel like you’re truly sorry to take a day off instead of that you can’t wait to watch TV and ditch your job.  You can even tell your boss to reach out with any questions if you think he’d really need your help. If you’re willing to be disturbed during your fake sick day, you can say, “I’ll be in bed all day, so give me a call if you need me…” But do this only if you think your boss will really be at a loss without you. End the conversation by thanking your boss for being so considerate.