Why was my sick time request rejected?

Last updated: November 4, 2026

Applies to: US W-2 employees and Canadian T4 employees who request sick time in the Ascen portal. Independent contractors don't earn sick leave through Ascen, and employees outside the US and Canada request time off through their in-country process, so they won't see sick time requests here.

Summary: The most common reason is that your timesheet already shows a full day of work on the date you picked, often because the wrong date was chosen. Sick time covers scheduled hours you missed, so your worked hours and your sick hours for one day can't add up to more than you were scheduled to work. Check the reason in your rejection notice, then submit a new request with the correct date and hours. If you think the decision is wrong, email support@ascen.com.

If your sick time wasn't approved and your time card or paycheck looks short, this article explains why and how to fix it.

Common reasons a sick time request is rejected

The day already has a full day of work on your timesheet. Sick time is for scheduled hours you missed. If your timesheet already shows a full day of worked hours on that date, there is nothing left for sick time to cover. This often happens when the wrong date was picked, for example last week's Wednesday instead of this week's.
You asked for more hours than you missed. If you worked part of your shift and then went home sick, request only the hours you missed, for example the last 3 hours of an 8-hour shift. Your worked hours plus your sick hours can't be more than your scheduled hours for that day.
You don't have enough sick time available. When you choose sick as the reason, the request form shows your balance: hours accrued, used, remaining, and available to use this year. Hours beyond what you have available can't be paid from your balance.
You can't use your sick time yet, or it isn't offered where you work. Some locations have a waiting period before new employees can use the sick time they have earned, and some don't require paid sick leave at all. This varies by your work location. See Why can't I use my paid sick time yet? and How paid sick leave works.
The date is after your assignment ended. Sick time can only be used for days when you were still on the assignment.

What to do next

Read the reason. The notice you receive when a request is rejected includes the reason.
Submit a new request with the correct details. A request can't be edited once it has been approved or rejected. Create a new one from Time Off with the correct date and only the hours you missed. See How do I enter sick time?
If the date is more than 14 days ago, the form won't accept it. Email support@ascen.com with the date and the hours instead.
If you think the decision is wrong, email support@ascen.com with your full name, the dates, and why. Please don't resubmit the same request unchanged.

What the request statuses mean

Pending: we haven't made a decision yet. You don't need to do anything unless we ask.
Missing supporting documents: no document is attached. On its own, this status does not mean the request will be rejected. For a short sick absence you usually don't need a document unless we ask for one.
Approved: the hours are included in your next payroll.
Rejected: the hours won't be paid as sick time, and the request is locked.

What happens if you do nothing

Rejected sick hours are not paid. If you leave a rejected request as it is, those hours won't appear on your paycheck. Submitting a corrected request, or emailing us if you think the decision is wrong, is how they get reviewed again.

Approval is about pay, not attendance

Ascen decides sick time requests because we are your employer, and the decision is about whether the time is paid. Calling out, attendance and covering your shifts stay with your worksite: follow its call-out process and let your staffing partner know about days you miss.

Where to get help

Ascen, support@ascen.com: a rejected request, your sick time balance, and whether sick time is paid where you work.
Your staffing partner: your schedule, calling out, and attendance questions.