Friday, November 21, 2008

Calling-in-Sick (of Work)

Some of the excuses people use to call in sick are strange -- like blaming their absence on the turkey, the psychic or the Coke can.

One worker said he had hit a turkey while riding a bike and wouldn't be in that day. Another said her psychic told her to stay home. A third said she had to stay home with her dog, who was stressed out after a family reunion.

Those are some of the excuses reported to CareerBuilder.com in its annual calling-in-sick survey of managers and workers. Other excuses the bosses reported: Someone claimed to have donated too much blood. Someone else said a toe was injured by a soda can falling from the refrigerator.

With excuses like that, it's no surprise that three in 10 employers say they check up on absentees.

Workers acknowledge they're making things up: One third of the 6,842 employees surveyed by Harris Interactive said they have called in sick when well, about the same as in the previous two years. Their reasons varied: extra sleep, errands or a doctor's appointment. Many just didn't feel like working.

That sounds more plausible than the fellow who claimed his wife burned all his clothes and he had nothing suitable for the office.

-- Vickie Elmer