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Sick Days: Dos and Don’ts

By WTOP Staff

What’s the funniest — or most bizarre — excuse you’ve heard for missing work? Post a comment in this story, comment on WTOP’s Facebook Page or use #WTOP on Twitter.

WASHINGTON – Calling in sick to the boss can be a nerve-racking ordeal.

Do I have a good reason?

Will anyone believe me?

Salary.com is here to help with good reasons to call in to work, and reasons that just aren’t going to fly.

Good reason – Contagious illness: You don’t want to take out the entire office. Plus, you’ll get better faster if you stay at home and take it easy,

Bad reason – Hangovers: This just isn’t going to work. Grab some coffee (no hair of the dog!), eat something and suck it up.

Good reason – Mental health: day. Yes, that’s right. Sometimes you just need a day to recharge. It’s best to schedule these days in advance, but if you have to, it’s OK. Just say you’re sick with a migraine or stomach bug so you can quickly get better.

Bad reason – MLB opening day: You should know in advance that this day is coming and if it’s important to you, schedule it ahead of time. Otherwise, it’s not fair to leave your coworkers hanging.

Good reason – Sick children or other family issues: A spouse’s sudden medical illness or a baby who needs to go to the doctor are fine excuses. Most work places should be supportive of this.

Bad reason: You’d rather be on a beach: Come on. Everyone would rather take a spontaneous beach vacation, but you can schedule those.

Good reason – Severe weather: Don’t risk your life trying to get to work.

Bad reason – Annoying weather: Flurries? A little mist? Grab your umbrella and get to work, you’ll be OK.

Good reason – Loss of a loved one: Everyone understands this reason. But never, ever lie about it.

Bad reason – You can’t stand your boss: Nearly half of workers don’t like their bosses. Shake it off, you’ll have to face him or her someday.

Good reason – A housing emergency: Your toilet explodes. Your roof caves in. These things happen and your work place should understand they need to be addresses immediately.

Bad reason – Too much work to do: Obviously, this will backfire. Not only will co-workers have to pick up the slack, but it will only add to your load when you get back. It’s better to knock it out now.

Good reason – A job interview: Missing work for a good opportunity is acceptable. Just say that you aren’t feeling well.

Bad reason – You’re bored: If your job is boring, try to make it more interesting. Sitting at home doesn’t help anything. In your spare time, you can try to take a class or take up a hobby.

What’s the funniest or most bizarre sick day excuse you’ve heard? Here are some of your responses:

WTOP’s David Burd contributed to this report. Follow @DavidBurdWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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