As far as you are actively working, you must have said to a colleague, ‘Please, can you cover for me?’ or have them say it to you.
The statement is mostly used when you want someone to work on your behalf because you wouldn’t be available to work at that period.
There are different reasons why you may not be available, but it must be something reasonable that will make the other person willing to cover for you.
If you don’t know how to ask someone to cover your shift or you probably need a more creative way to do that, you have to read this article. In this article, you will learn twenty (20) different ways to ask someone to cover your shift.
How to Ask Someone To Cover Your Shift
- If your timetable allows you, would you be willing to cover my shift on Sunday?
- I was contemplating whether you would be willing to pick my shift for me?
- You don’t have to give me a response now, but would you be willing to take my shift tomorrow evening?
- I need your help with covering my shift on (mention a specific day) as I have other engagements at that time.
- Do you have the opportunity to take up a double shift at any time?
- What do you think about switching shifts with me on (mention the specific day)?
- If you don’t have a problem with taking over a night shift, would you be willing to take over my shift?
- I’m looking for someone who would cover my shift for me, do you think you can do me the honors?
- I need saving at this point – someone to cover my shift for tomorrow morning.
- If you cover my shift so that I can attend (mention the event), I will owe you one.
- If you say yes to covering my shift, my heart will be filled with immense joy.
- You have better experience at handling customers during this shift; can we switch?
- Can you come in tomorrow to cover a shift for me?
- If you cover my shift like the legend that you are, then I can go on that date you’ve been asking to go to.
- If you cover my shift, I will stop tormenting you with feline images of myself.
- You appear like you love additional work, so will you be a darling and cover my shift?
- There is nothing better you have to do than to cover my shift, so will you?
- You don’t look like someone who hates working additional hours; so why not take up some of mine?
- You are just a burst of pure energy; would you mind spending that energy covering my shift for me?
- I’m certain that you need extra money, so I will be giving up my shift for you. Are you interested?
If your timetable allows you, would you be willing to cover my shift on Sunday?
This alternative way of asking a person to cover your shift is used when the person is working with a timetable/schedule. It shows that you know that the person is probably preoccupied and that you respect their time.
- If your timetable allows you, would you be willing to cover my shift on Sunday?
- I’ll have to check my timetable.
I was contemplating whether you would be willing to pick my shift for me
This statement shows that you were unsure how the person would react to your request. It lets them know that despite what you think, it can only be possible if they are willing to do it.
- I was contemplating whether you would be willing to pick my shift for me.
- Keep contemplating and perhaps I will consider.
You don’t have to give me a response now, but would you be willing to take my shift tomorrow evening?
You can use this statement when you want to give the other person a chance to consider your offer. Perhaps you believe that giving them that space will let them check their schedule and determine whether or not they are willing to help you.
- You don’t have to give me a response now, but would you be willing to take my shift tomorrow evening?
- I’ll give a response to that later.
I need your help with covering my shift on (mention a specific day) as I have other engagements at that time.
This statement is quite direct and is used when you don’t want to beat around the bush. It allows the person to know that you need their help urgently before you tell them what exactly you need their help with.
- I need your help with covering my shift on (mention a specific day) as I have other engagements at that time.
- Oh, I will be occupied on that day, sorry that I can’t help.
Do you have the opportunity to take up a double shift at any time?
If the other person has a shift just before yours, then asking them to also take up yours will amount to a double shift. If that is the case, then you can use this statement to ask them to cover for you.
- Do you have the opportunity to take up a double shift at a time?
- I would have loved to but I’m really tired.
What do you think about switching shifts with me on (mention the specific day)?
This method of asking someone to cover a shift for you is quite specific and lets the person know that your aim is for both of you to switch shifts temporarily.
- What do you think about switching shifts with me on (mention the specific day)?
- Alright.
If you don’t have a problem with taking over a night shift, would you be willing to take over my shift?
This alternative is also specific, as it lets the other person know that the shift you want them to take over is a night one. This means that they may have to stay awake all night, so it means that they will be comfortable with that.
- If you don’t have a problem with taking over a night shift, would you be willing to take over my shift?
- I don’t have a problem with that.
I’m looking for someone who would cover my shift for me, do you think you can do me the honors?
This is a dramatic and hilarious way of asking someone to cover your shift for you as it contains words that force you to show your playful side.
- I’m looking for someone who would cover my shift for me, do you think you can do the honors?
- Honor is mine.
I need savings at this point, i.e., someone to cover my shift for tomorrow morning.
If it is a matter of urgency where you need someone to ‘save’ you from breaking a commitment you had made, then this is the right statement to use.
- I need savings at this point, i.e., someone to cover my shift for tomorrow evening.
- I’ll be your hero.
Can you cover my shift so that I can attend (mention the event)? I will owe you one.
If you have an important event to attend such as your child’s open day at school and you need to ask a colleague to help you cover a shift then this is the statement to use.
- Can you cover my shift so that I can attend (mention the event)? I will owe you one.
- You owe me a lot, but let’s add this one to the list.
If you say yes to covering my shift, my heart will be filled with immense joy
If the other person is close to you such that they will care about how you feel, then you can use this statement. A normal person would otherwise be only focused on what they will benefit from helping you.
- If you say yes to covering my shift, my heart will be filled with immense joy.
- And what will my hand be filled with?
You have better experience handling customers during this shift; can we switch?
This statement is very suitable when you feel like the other person has better experience or skill in handling your shift. It could be that there will be an influx of customers during that shift, hence the need for someone more experienced to handle it.
- You have better experience handling customers during this shift; can we switch?
- You need to get better at being tricky.
Can you come in tomorrow to cover a shift for me?
You can use this statement if you wish to be direct in your request. This alternative does not give additional information concerning the shift or the reason why you want the other person to cover the shift for you.
- Can you come in tomorrow to cover a shift for me?
- Why not?
If you cover my shift like the legend that you are, then I can go on that date you’ve been asking to go to.
If you want to increase the chances of your request being granted then use this statement. It uses flattery to make the person feel good and more likely to cover your shift.
Let’s just hope that he/she is in a good mood and will not see through your tricks.
- If you cover my shift like the legend that you are, then I can go on that date you’ve been asking to go to.
- Lol, nice bargain. Alright.
If you cover my shift, I will stop tormenting you with feline images of myself.
If you have a great relationship with the person you are asking to cover your shift, then you can use this statement.
It shows that you have probably been ‘tormenting’ the other person with certain memes or images, and you are willing to compromise if they cover your shift.
- If you cover my shift, I will stop tormenting you with feline images of myself.
- Ugh, finally!
You appear like you love additional work, so will you be a darling and cover my shift?
If you are good with sarcasm or simply want to use sarcasm to ask someone to cover your shift, then this is the best statement for you to use.
- You appear like you love additional work, so will you be a darling and cover my shift?
- You look like you love a good beating, so?
There is nothing better you have to do than to cover my shift, so will you?
If this statement is used with the right person it can be a funny way to ask someone to cover your shift; otherwise, it sounds insulting.
- There is nothing better you have to do than to cover my shift, so will you?
- This level of disrespect, ugh. I will do it anyway, I need the money.
You don’t look like someone who hates working additional hours, so why not take up some of mine?
This statement combines reverse psychology and humor to ask someone to cover a shift for you.
- You don’t look like someone who hates working additional hours, so why not take up some of mine?
- Looks are deceptive, try again.
You are just a burst of pure energy, would you mind spending that energy covering my shift for me?
When using this statement, the aim is to be cheerful, sarcastic, and funny while still presenting your request. It is mostly suitable if the other person is extroverted, cheerful, and always full of energy.
- You are just a burst of pure energy, would you mind spending that energy covering my shift for me?
- My energy cannot cover that, sorry.
I’m certain that you need extra money, so I will be giving up my shift for you, are you interested?
This statement is not really founded on the fact that you know that the person needs extra money, but on humor and speculation.
- I’m certain that you need extra money, so I will be giving up my shift for you, are you interested?
- I’ll do it; I need the money.
Final Words
It’s not as difficult as you think to ask someone to cover your shift, especially if you just started the job recently or you are socially awkward and don’t know how to communicate.
You can use the statements in this article to ask a colleague to cover a shift for you. However, ensure that you ask at a reasonable time unless something comes up and you have to make it impromptu.
