Missed a deadline after I crashed during a sick day last month

I was pushing through a fever to finish a project for a local bakery in Austin, but I passed out at my desk around 2 PM and woke up at 8. The client emailed me asking where the files were, and I had to explain I was too sick to function. Has anyone found a good way to communicate delays when you're solo and stuck in bed?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessica33114d ago

Girl, I have been THERE. The biggest thing I learned is to ALWAYS have a backup communication plan for sick days, even if it's just a pre-written email draft titled "Down with the plague" in your drafts folder. When you're solo, your clients need to know you're human, not a robot. So the second you feel that fever coming on, send a quick text or email saying "Hey, I'm coming down with something bad, will update you by X time tomorrow." That way, if you pass out at 2 PM, the client already knows to expect silence. It's also smart to build in a buffer day for every deadline, especially if you work for time-sensitive clients like bakeries. And honestly, after you recover, send a short apology and maybe a free mini-service or a coupon if you can swing it. People remember how you HANDLE a screw up more than the screw up itself.

jana50914d ago

Wait, isn't part of the appeal of working solo being able to set your own schedule and not apologize for being human?

viola_garcia5614d ago

Read something similar on a freelancer forum. They suggested keeping a "sick day email" template saved on your phone. Just copy paste and fill in the client name. Saved me once when I had a bad migraine.