Watch out for grandma. (The Denver Post file photo)
Your best excuse for calling in sick likely won’t hold a candle to these.
CareerBuilder today released its annual study of the most absurd excuses people have used for calling in sick. The national survey, conducted by Harris Poll for CareerBuilder, included 3,321 full-time workers and 2,326 H.R pros across various industries and company sizes.
Here are the most memorable. (Yes, these are real.)
- Employee claimed his grandmother poisoned him with ham.
- Employee was stuck under the bed.
- Employee broke his arm reaching to grab a falling sandwich.
- Employee said the universe was telling him to take a day off.
- Employee’s wife found out he was cheating. He had to spend the day retrieving his belongings from the dumpster.
- Employee poked herself in the eye while combing her hair.
- Employee said his wife put all his underwear in the washer.
- Employee said the meal he cooked for a department potluck didn’t turn out well.
- Employee was going to the beach because the doctor said she needed more vitamin D.
- Employee said her cat was stuck inside the dashboard of her car.
At least these folks get an ‘A’ for creativity, right?
The study also sheds light on how people work …or don’t. Survey says 38 percent of us have called in sick in the last year when we’re actually feeling well, up from 28 percent in 2014. But bosses aren’t as gullible as we may think: About one-third of surveyed employers say they have checked to see if an employee is telling the truth. The most popular method is requiring the traditional doctor’s note, seconded by calling the employee. And about 32 percent say they monitor employee Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts.
In other words, don’t post selfies in the park if you called in. I mean, that’s common sense, but apparently it needs saying.
I actually had a real reason I was late for work today. This little guy named Buddy ran in front of my car, so we hung out until his owner came to get him. (Photo: Laura Keeney, The Denver Post)
The survey results also beg the question of if the American work day is getting more stressful. There’s no doubt many workers are doing more with less. This may be showing in our work habits: Of those employees who have discretionary paid time off (PTO), 27 percent say they still feel obligated to make up an excuse to take a day off. Last year, that number was 23 percent. In other words, we feel guilty for not being at work.
And when we’re really, actually sick, more than half of us — 54 percent — go in anyhow because we feel the work won’t get done otherwise and 48 percent also say we can’t afford to miss a day of pay. It’s worst for Millennials: about 71 percent of 18-24-year-olds blame financial worries for working while ill.
In other words, it’s scientifically proven that the youngest person in the office is likely responsible for that rapidly spreading workplace plague.
