Uncategorized
“A Cow Just Broke Into My House!” 2010′s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work
- October 27th, 2010
- 19 Comments
Feel like something’s been, well, different at the office lately? That things seem a bit emptier at the workplace? A bit quieter? Well, you’re not crazy — you’re just observant. Turns out many employees are calling off of work to crawl back under the covers and hide from the recession, build a delicious burger cake, or explain a cow break-in to the cops.
Yes, I said cow break-in. CareerBuilder has just released its 2010 survey of the most unusual excuses for missing work, and if you thought 2009′s most unusual excuses lived up to their name, you’re in luck — 2010′s list is just as full of wacky, creative, and head-shaking employee excuses.
Sick… or Sick of the Recession?
CareerBuilder 2010 survey on absenteeism, which included more than 3,100 workers and more than 2,400 employers, reveals that 29 percent of workers (a slight increase from 28 percent last year) have pulled a Ferris Bueller and played hooky from the office at least once this year, calling in sick when they were actually well.
But why? While the excuses can be off-the-wall, the reasons behind them might not be so out there. Last year, I mentioned that, although some workers call off of work every year, 2009′s high rate of absences due to fake excuses were for the first time likely a reflection of recession-induced stress and burnout. That recession-related stress could be seeping into 2010, as 27 percent of employers in this year’s survey think they are seeing an increase in bogus sick excuses from employees due to continued stress and burnout caused by the weak economy.
The majority of employees surveyed say they call in sick with fake excuses because they “just don’t feel like going to work,” followed by “needing to relax” and “catching up on sleep.” Other reasons included doctor’s appointments, needing to run personal errands, and plans with family and friends. In addition to recession burnout, the workplace/life balance is shifting more and more, and as many employees are working while off the clock, they’re also feeling a need to get more personal things done while on the clock.
2010′s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work
Time to moooove:
“A cow broke into my house and I have to wait for the insurance man.”
Why did the chicken cross the road?
“A chicken attacked my mom.”
PG version of “American Pie”:
“My finger is stuck in a bowling ball.”
Bad hair day:
“My hair transplant has gone bad.”
Kids can be so mean?
“My girlfriend threw a Sit ‘n Spin through my living room window.”
Just kickin’ it:
“My foot is caught in the garbage disposal.”
Not-so clever comeback:
“I’m not feeling too clever today.”
Thanksgiving faux pas:
“I burned my mouth on a pumpkin pie.”
Eh?
“I was in a boat on Lake Erie and ran out of gas and the coast guard towed me to the Canadian side.”
Just a law-abiding citizen:
“I have to mow the lawn to avoid a lawsuit from the home owner’s association.”
It’s a Matter of Trust…
While the majority of employers said they believe their workers when they say they’re feeling under the weather, 29 percent admitted they’ve checked up on an employee who called in sick, and 16 percent said they have gone so far as to fire a worker for missing work without a proven excuse.
- Of the employers who checked up on an employee, 70 percent said they required the employee to show them a doctor’s note.
- While half called the employee at home, 18 percent had another worker call the employee (shady!) and 15 percent drove by the employee’s house or apartment (am I the only one who just had flashbacks of The Office‘s Michael checking up on Oscar?).
… And It Comes Down to Communication
“Six-in-ten employers we surveyed said they let their team members use sick days for mental health days,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources at CareerBuilder. “If you need to take some time away from the office, the best way not to cause yourself more stress is to be open and honest with your manager.”
On the flip side, employers must also be open and communicative about policies and preferences for work absence. Let your employees know what your expectations are, and keep in mind that by being open-minded with your employees, they’re more likely to return the favor.
The recession has been hard on everyone, not least of all the employees who have weathered the ups and downs with your business. Sick or not, taking a mental health day to rest, go on a bike ride, get a massage, or spend time with family may be just what the doctor ordered for them — and the best thing for your business. Remember that trust and respect of your employees will generally equate to trust and respect back from them — and less headaches for you.
What are the most unusual (or most unbelievable) sick excuses you’ve gotten from your employees — or that you’ve used yourself?
Related Articles
-
“I Hit a Nun with My Motorcycle”: 2009′s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work
-
No, Really, Your Excuse is Totally Believable! (Cough, Cough) – 2008′s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work
-
“The Dog Ate Your Phone? Seriously?” CareerBuilder Survey Reveals Bizarre Excuses for Being Late to Work
-
Locked in the Car Trunk? CareerBuilder’s Most Outrageous Excuses for Being Late to Work
-
When it Comes to their own Benefits, Many Employees are Missing the Boat
“The Dog Ate Your Phone? Seriously?” CareerBuilder Survey Reveals Bizarre Excuses for Being Late to Work
About Amy Chulik
Originally hailing from Ohio, Amy is a content strategist on the Marketing and Communications Team who has been with both CareerBuilder and the city of Chicago for more than seven years. She writes on a range of recruitment topics on The Hiring Site, striving to bring a dose of clarity and humor to sometimes complicated issues around employee attraction, engagement and retention. In addition, she writes and edits content for the CareerBuilder website as well as CareerBuilder e-books, white papers, emails, marketing campaigns, and anything else that's thrown her way. She is also the voice of @cbforemployers on Twitter. When she's not working, Amy spends as much time as possible reading, writing short stories, eating Nutella out of the jar, waiting for CTA buses and trains, going to see her favorite bands live, dreaming up new adventures, and spending time with people who inspire and challenge her.
Trackbacks
Stay Connected
- February 2012 (16)
- January 2012 (17)
- December 2011 (16)
- November 2011 (18)
- October 2011 (15)
- September 2011 (18)
- August 2011 (18)
- July 2011 (24)
- June 2011 (20)
- May 2011 (15)
- April 2011 (19)
- March 2011 (24)
- February 2011 (16)
- January 2011 (20)
- December 2010 (18)
- November 2010 (13)
- October 2010 (15)
- September 2010 (20)
- August 2010 (15)
- July 2010 (25)
- June 2010 (19)
- May 2010 (11)
- April 2010 (18)
- March 2010 (19)
- February 2010 (17)
- January 2010 (18)
- December 2009 (12)
- November 2009 (17)
- October 2009 (17)
- September 2009 (12)
- August 2009 (16)
- July 2009 (18)
- June 2009 (22)
- May 2009 (12)
- April 2009 (12)
- March 2009 (16)
- February 2009 (24)
- January 2009 (19)
- December 2008 (20)
- November 2008 (21)
- October 2008 (25)
- September 2008 (17)
- August 2008 (14)
- July 2008 (16)
- June 2008 (11)
- May 2008 (10)
- benefits
- best place to work
- BLS
- Careerbuilder survey
- company culture
- corporate philanthropy
- economic climate
- Economy
- employee benefits
- Employee Engagement
- employee morale
- employee recognition
- employment brand
- Employment Branding
- facebook
- Generational Hiring
- Generation Y
- Gen X
- gen Y
- Going Green
- hiring
- Hiring Forecast
- Interviewing
- interview questions
- Job Forecast
- Job Postings
- laid off workers
- layoffs
- leadership
- Leadership Development
- Matt Ferguson
- millenials
- recession
- recruiting
- retention
- SHRM 2008
- SHRM 2009
- SHRM annual conference
- Social Media
- social networking
- social recruiting
- Talent Acquisition
- telecommuting
- twitter
- work/life balance
Subscribe
- February 2012 (16)
- January 2012 (17)
- December 2011 (16)
- November 2011 (18)
- October 2011 (15)
- September 2011 (18)
- August 2011 (18)
- July 2011 (24)
- June 2011 (20)
- May 2011 (15)
- April 2011 (19)
- March 2011 (24)
- February 2011 (16)
- January 2011 (20)
- December 2010 (18)
- November 2010 (13)
- October 2010 (15)
- September 2010 (20)
- August 2010 (15)
- July 2010 (25)
- June 2010 (19)
- May 2010 (11)
- April 2010 (18)
- March 2010 (19)
- February 2010 (17)
- January 2010 (18)
- December 2009 (12)
- November 2009 (17)
- October 2009 (17)
- September 2009 (12)
- August 2009 (16)
- July 2009 (18)
- June 2009 (22)
- May 2009 (12)
- April 2009 (12)
- March 2009 (16)
- February 2009 (24)
- January 2009 (19)
- December 2008 (20)
- November 2008 (21)
- October 2008 (25)
- September 2008 (17)
- August 2008 (14)
- July 2008 (16)
- June 2008 (11)
- May 2008 (10)
- benefits
- best place to work
- BLS
- Careerbuilder survey
- company culture
- corporate philanthropy
- economic climate
- Economy
- employee benefits
- Employee Engagement
- employee morale
- employee recognition
- employment brand
- Employment Branding
- Generational Hiring
- Generation Y
- Gen X
- gen Y
- Going Green
- hiring
- Hiring Forecast
- Interviewing
- interview questions
- Job Forecast
- Job Postings
- laid off workers
- layoffs
- leadership
- Leadership Development
- Matt Ferguson
- millenials
- recession
- recruiting
- retention
- SHRM 2008
- SHRM 2009
- SHRM annual conference
- Social Media
- social networking
- social recruiting
- Talent Acquisition
- telecommuting
- work/life balance
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by CareerBuilder, Ryan Goldvine. Ryan Goldvine said: RT @CBforEmployers: "A Cow Just Broke Into My House!” 2010′s Most Unusual Excuses for Missing Work: http://t.co/BEUgmgU [...]
[...] tired of hearing the old “A Cow Broke Into My House” excuse, many employers are changing their sick leave policies. And [...]
[...] tired of hearing the old “A Cow Broke Into My House” excuse, many employers are changing their sick leave policies. And [...]
[...] tired of hearing the old “A Cow Broke Into My House” excuse, many employers are changing their sick leave policies. And [...]
[...] help but notice that this number overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] but notice that this 72 percent overlaps slightly with the 29 percent of workers who admitted they have faked an excuse to call in sick in a previous CareerBuilder survey. I’d love to get a peek inside the minds of those who show no [...]
[...] of workers have admitted to playing hooky from the office this year, and that if you thought 2010′s most unusual excuses for missing work couldn’t be topped,you need to check out this year’s [...]
[...] of workers have admitted to playing hooky from the office this year, and that if you thought 2010′s most unusual excuses for missing work couldn’t be topped,you need to check out this year’s [...]
[...] of workers have admitted to playing hooky from the office this year, and that if you thought 2010′s most unusual excuses for missing work couldn’t be topped,you need to check out this year’s [...]
[...] of workers have admitted to playing hooky from the office this year, and that if you thought 2010′s most unusual excuses for missing work couldn’t be topped,you need to check out this year’s [...]