interview, in which you should declare why you were unwell, and what steps have been taken to get well again. If you need time off for a job interview or meeting in context of new employment, your employer should not be covering the cost of this absence from work, and it would be appropriate to get permission to take the time off - though your reason for needing the time off does not need to be disclosed. This is not to say it isn't courteous to give a reason why you need the time off, if it is at short notice. Be careful with the dead relatives excuse... If your current employer refuses, and they are entitled to do so, calling in sick will merely raise suspicions that you are not. Instead, you should explain to your prospective employer or interviewer that you cannot make the suggested interview/meeting, and ideally, you should suggest when you are available in a timely context to the original appointment time. Test their flexibility on meeting you. If they are resistant, hesitant, cagey or indifferent - ask yourself if this is the behaviour of an employer with whom you wish to work. More importantly, don't upset your existing employer by trying to attend an interview/meeting for a job you might not get. Our current economic climate is not so healthy that you should take unnecessary risks. If you're on good 'mate' terms then they'd be more disappointed not to know. I'd ask them for a