Requesting Time Off Vocabulary for Manufacturing Workers

Sooner or later, you'll need time off work — whether for a personal matter or because you're sick. How you say it to your team leader in English needs to sound both clear and polite. This vocabulary covers the terms for requesting leave and reporting an absence.

Types of Leave

• day off — "I'd like to request a day off."
• sick leave
• vacation
• absence — the general term for not being at work.

Phrases for Requesting Leave

• request — "I'd like to request..."
• Could I...? — a polite way to ask for permission. "Could I take a day off next week?"
• approve — "My team leader approved my request."

Reporting Sickness or an Absence

• call in sick — "I need to call in sick today."
• notice — "Please give notice before your day off."
• schedule — already covered earlier, still relevant here for talking about time off.

Short Example Sentences

• "I'd like to request a day off next Friday."
• "Could I take sick leave today? I'm not feeling well."
• "Please give notice at least two days before your absence."

Try the Quiz

This vocabulary matters for making sure your request sounds clear and polite. Try the short quiz below to check what stuck.