A new report from CareerBuilder lists the worst excuses for missing work in 2017. According to the annual survey, 40% of workers have called in sick when they weren’t, compared to 35% in 2016.
Among the craziest reasons provided by employees, as reported by employers:
- A bear was in the employee’s yard, and they were afraid to come out.
- Employee’s phone exploded, and it hurt their hand.
- Employee ate a toothpick in his food at a restaurant.
- Employee broke his arm wrestling a female bodybuilder.
- Employee called in “fat” because their uniform didn’t fit.
- Dog swallowed the employee’s car keys, so she was waiting until it came out.
- Employee left his clothes at the laundry mat.
- Employee did not have enough gas to get to work.
- Employee had to re-schedule a new manicure because some of their artificial nails fell off.
- Employee wasn’t not sure how the solar eclipse would affect them so it would be safer to stay at home.
Meanwhile, 26% of employers have let an employee go because they had “a fake excuse,” and 43% of employers have checked on social media to find that the person wasn’t sick at all.
A Harris Poll survey found the most prevalent cause of taking a sick day was heading to a doctor’s appointment, reported by 30% of workers.
At the same time, 37% of workers admit to going to work when they don’t feel well in order to save their sick days. Forty-eight percent do so because of the money.
To learn how to reduce your sick days by 16%, visit SelfCare for HealthCare™.