15 Excuses for Calling in Sick
|
By Richard Castellini, Senior Career Adviser for CareerBuilder.com
|
|
When you need a random day off of work, what do you do? Do you
schedule a vacation day with your boss, or call in with some
overblown cover story? And just how long does it take you to
come up with that excuse? With one-in-four workers considering
sick days equivalent to vacation time, it's no wonder workers
are so crafty at calling in sick.
CareerBuilder.com recently took a look at
employees who call in sick with bogus excuses. Thirty-two
percent of workers said they called in sick when they felt well
at least once during the last year, down from 43 percent in the
2005 survey. This could be because some employers are evolving
to a PTO (paid time off) system, which is a more flexible way
for workers to take time off from work. But, workers should be
mindful of company policies and their responsibilities as an
employee.
The most popular motivator for missing work: good,
old-fashioned R&R. Almost half of workers said they needed
to relax, while 24 percent wanted to catch up on sleep. Other
top reasons included running personal errands (20 percent),
doctor's appointments (17 percent), plans with family and
friends (16 percent) and housework (16 percent).
Some employers said they typically don't question excuses
given, but others were more skeptical. Almost half of employers
have caught an employee calling in sick with a fake excuse; 27
percent said they have fired a worker for calling in sick
without a legitimate reason.
Forty-one percent of hiring managers said they have received
unusual or suspicious sick-day alibis. When asked to share the
most unusual excuses workers gave for missing work, hiring
managers revealed some of their favorite alibis:
1. Employee was poisoned by his mother-in-law.
2. A buffalo escaped from the game reserve and kept
charging the employee every time she tried to go to her car
from her house.
3. Employee was feeling all the symptoms of his
expecting wife.
4. Employee called from his cell phone, saying that he
was accidentally locked in a restroom stall and that no one was
around to let him out.
5. Employee broke his leg snowboarding off his roof
while drunk.
6. Employee's wife said he couldn't come into work
because he had a lot of chores to do around the house.
7. One of the walls in the employee's home fell off the
night before.
8. Employee's mother was in jail.
9. A skunk got into the employee's house and sprayed
all of his uniforms.
10. Employee had a bad case of hiccups.
11. Employee blew his nose so hard, his back went
out.
12. Employee's horses got loose and were running down
the highway.
13. Employee was hit by a bus while walking.
14. Employee's dog swallowed her bus pass.
15. Employee was sad.
Richard Castellini is Vice President of Consumer Marketing
at CareerBuilder.com. He is an expert in recruitment trends and
tactics, job seeker behavior and workplace issues.
|
More Related Articles
Rules for Cubicle Courtesy
Cubicles are designed to enhance interaction and help companies
maximize space. But because partitioned environments lack
privacy, it's critical that cube dwellers develop a healthy
respect for their co-workers.
How to Conquer the First Impression
When you walk into an interview, remember this: It only takes
30 seconds to make a lasting impression.
Why Work for an Agency? It Can Be Temp-ting.
Temporary work can be a great way to get your foot in the door
at a company you'd like to work for.
Google Web Search
Didn't see what you were looking for?
powered by Google
|
