The Most Absurd Sick Day Excuses

We’re constantly hearing about how folks in America aren’t taking all their vacation days, but it seems more and more people have no problem calling in sick. According to Career Builder’s annual survey, 38% of employees have called in a sick day in the past year, which is up ten percent from last year.

As for why, many of the reasons are pretty common, like 27% who say they have a doctor’s appointment, 27% who just didn’t feel like going in, 26% who need to relax, 21% who blamed lack of sleep and 12% who blamed bad weather.

And bosses should start expecting more and more sick calls soon because December is the most popular month for employees to call in sick (20%), followed by January (15%) and February (14%).

Of course not many people will tell their bosses the real reason they're calling in sick (unless they actually are sick).  And sometimes people can come up with some outrageous excuses to convince their boss they need the day off. Many employers have heard some pretty ridiculous excuses, and agreed to share them with Career Builder. Among the most absurd:

• 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.