About one-third of workers call in sick with fake illnesses or for other not-so-legit reasons, according to a recent survey. Their excuses run the gamut from the standard, "I'm a little under the weather," to the sublimely ridiculous. And since few employers check up on excuses, employees can get away with some rather interesting concoctions.
But truth is indeed often stranger than fiction when it comes to work excuses. Here are a dozen doozies - some oddball-but-legitimate, some boldfaced whoppers - our experts and others in the workforce have heard.
"My pants won't close." - as told to Kathi Elster, career advisor and co-author of Working for You Isn't Working for Me.
"A mouse ate my truck." - as told by Tom Reid, now of Certified Contracting Solutions. It was true. A mouse had made a nest in his truck and had chewed the insulation off most of the wires under the hood.
"My car literally exploded." - as told to restaurant manager Alice Martinez.
"I lost my shoe." - as told to nurse Karon Gibson, author of Nurses on our Own.
"I'd love to...but I have no time. Do you know that I iron my husband's underwear?" - as told to Sandra E. Lamb, author of How to Write It.
"All my clothes are in the laundry." -- as told to Kathi Elster.
"My dog is having puppies." - as told to customer sales manager Steven Green. The truth? Her male dog did not have puppies.
"My front door won't open." - also told to Elster.
"My brother cut off his finger while slicing a bagel." - as heard by account coordinator Kristi Eells. It turns out the employee just had a hangover.
"I have to bail my mother out of jail." - as told to talent agent Kate Bacon Dunne.
"I thought today was yesterday and that I had another day." - as told to Elster.
"My tools have all suddenly rusted and I can't do the job after all." - as told to Sarah Mai.
"My dog will rip the new couch apart." - as told to office manager Michael J. Morris.
But truth is indeed often stranger than fiction when it comes to work excuses. Here are a dozen doozies - some oddball-but-legitimate, some boldfaced whoppers - our experts and others in the workforce have heard.
"My pants won't close." - as told to Kathi Elster, career advisor and co-author of Working for You Isn't Working for Me.
"A mouse ate my truck." - as told by Tom Reid, now of Certified Contracting Solutions. It was true. A mouse had made a nest in his truck and had chewed the insulation off most of the wires under the hood.
"My car literally exploded." - as told to restaurant manager Alice Martinez.
"I lost my shoe." - as told to nurse Karon Gibson, author of Nurses on our Own.
"I'd love to...but I have no time. Do you know that I iron my husband's underwear?" - as told to Sandra E. Lamb, author of How to Write It.
"All my clothes are in the laundry." -- as told to Kathi Elster.
"My dog is having puppies." - as told to customer sales manager Steven Green. The truth? Her male dog did not have puppies.
"My front door won't open." - also told to Elster.
"My brother cut off his finger while slicing a bagel." - as heard by account coordinator Kristi Eells. It turns out the employee just had a hangover.
"I have to bail my mother out of jail." - as told to talent agent Kate Bacon Dunne.
"I thought today was yesterday and that I had another day." - as told to Elster.
"My tools have all suddenly rusted and I can't do the job after all." - as told to Sarah Mai.
"My dog will rip the new couch apart." - as told to office manager Michael J. Morris.
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