Common Employee Excuses for Being Late to Work

Common Excuses Made by Employees

Most employers are inclined to give time off to employees who suffer from the sniffles during flu season. However, are the calls you receiving legit? Or are your employees just suffering from what is commonly referred to as the 9 to 5 bug? Nearly three in ten workers called in sick with a fake excuse last year. Here is a look at some of the most outrageous excuses made by employees and the prime time of year these symptoms occur.

No-Show Trends

While employers reported heightened absenteeism around the holidays, the prime time of year for sick notices occurs in the first quarter between January and March. Over 30% of no-show occurs during this period in time. April through June sees a 13% rate and July through September sees a 30% rate of absenteeism. October through December sees a 23% rate of no shows.

Sick Call

When it comes to giving your employer a sick call, 84% of employees do so by phone. 24% use email as a means of notifying their employer of their needed time off. While 11% use text message.

Most Outrageous Excuses for Missing Work

When employers were asked to share their most unusual excuses given by employees for missing work, here are some of the responses received.

• My 12-year old daughter stole my car and I had no other way to get to work. I did not want to report it to police.
• I got bats in my hair.
• A refrigerator fell on me.
• I was in line at a coffee shop when a truck carrying flour backed up and dumped the flour in my convertible.
• A deer bit me during hunting season.
• I ate too much at a party.
• I feel out of bed and broke my nose.
• I got a cold from my puppy.
• My child stuck a mint up their nose and I had to go to the ER to get it removed.
• I hurt my back chasing a beaver.
• I caught my toe in a vent cover.
• I have a headache from going to too many garage sales.
• My brother in law was kidnapped by a drug cartel in Mexico.
• I drank anti-freeze by mistake and had to go to the hospital.
• I was at a bowling alley and a bucket filled with water crashed through the ceiling and hit me on the head.

The Consequences for Using Outrageous Excuses

Calling in sick to work does not go unpunished. 15% of employers have said they have fired a worker for this reason. 28% of employers have checked up on an employing citing that they required a doctor’s note for their excuse. Over half actually called the employee to check up on them. A fifth of employers had another employee call the absent employee. 16% actually drove by the employee’s home.