Who hasn't called in sick to work at least once while actually feeling quite fit? Some 35% of workers polled in a recent survey admitted to calling in sick when they felt well at least once during the past year, with 10% admitting to playing sick at least three times. Reasons for playing hooky included attending to personal errands, catching up on sleep or simply relaxing. "One in four workers report they feel sick days are equivalent to extra vacation days and treat them as such," says Rosemary Haefner, senior career advisor for CareerBuilder.com, which released the survey results. The survey also asked hiring managers to cite unusual excuses workers gave for missing work. Among the most creative excuses were:
- I tripped over my dog and was knocked unconscious.
- I was spit on by a venomous snake.
- I was arrested as a result of mistaken identity.
- I couldn't find my shoes.