I'm not feeling well and need to head home; I'll leave by [time] after handing off anything urgent.
By WhatsApp
Messaging Your Boss on WhatsApp About Feeling sick
When your team lives on WhatsApp, a message about feeling sick should stay professional. Keep it brief and slightly more formal than usual.
Say what you need, briefly
Say you have suddenly become unwell and need to head home, with a rough leaving time. You do not owe a symptom-by-symptom account; feeling unwell is a complete reason.
Stay professional on a casual app
WhatsApp invites shorthand, but a leave request still deserves a clear, complete sentence. Skip voice notes and emojis; a tidy one-line message reads as respectful even on a chat app, and it keeps everything in one place.
Example messages
I've come down with something and can't keep working today. Could I pass [task] on or follow up tomorrow?
I'm unwell and would rather not push through. I'll head out by [time] and catch up once I'm better.
Mistakes to avoid
Don't rely on emojis or a voice note for a leave request, and don't split it across several chats.
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This page shares wording ideas, not legal or HR advice. Follow your own employer's time-off policy.
Common questions
Do I have to say what's wrong?
No. Feeling unwell is a complete reason. Share more only if you want to.
Should I follow up by email?
Only if your workplace expects a written record elsewhere. For WhatsApp-first teams, the chat is enough.