The Most Outrageous, Real-Life Excuses People Gave For Missing Work In 2014

Did you ever wake up and just not feel like going to work, but couldn’t think of a good reason not to? Maybe you can try one of these excuses, but they may not fly with the boss.

CareerBuilder surveyed managers and workers recently to get details on how and why people call off work. Bosses reported that some workers get pretty creative about missing a day, giving some pretty outrageous excuses. Whether they are true or not – from flaming uniforms to accidental traveling – you have to admit, these employees’ reasons for missing work are certainly unusual.

Managers reported that employees actually used these excuses to take a day off over the last year.

1. I just put a casserole in the oven
2. My plastic surgery needs some tweaking to get it just right
3. My feet and legs fell asleep when I was sitting in the bathroom and when I stood up I broke my ankle
4. I was gambling at the casino all weekend and still have money left. I need to stay to win it back
5. I’m stuck in the blood pressure machine at the grocery store
6. I have a gallstone and I want to heal it holistically
7. I put my uniform in the microwave to dry it and it caught on fire
8. I accidentally got on a plane
9. I got lucky last night and don’t know where I am
10. And the best one – I woke up in a good mood and don’t want to ruin it

And if none of those are good enough for you, maybe you can find one you like better on this Experience.com list of the best – or worst – excuses from past CareerBuilder surveys.

• I was sprayed by a skunk.
• I tripped over my dog and was knocked unconscious.
• My bus broke down and was held up by robbers.
• I was arrested as a result of mistaken identity.
• I forgot to come back to work after lunch.
• I couldn’t find my shoes.
• I hurt myself bowling.
• I was spit on by a venomous snake.
• I totaled my wife’s jeep in a collision with a cow.
• A hitman was looking for me.
• My curlers burned my hair, and I had to go to the hairdresser.
• I eloped.
• My brain went to sleep, and I couldn’t wake it up.
• My cat unplugged my alarm clock.
• I had to be there for my husband’s grand jury trial.
• I had to ship my grandmother’s bones to India. (note: she passed away 20 years ago)
• I forgot what day of the week it was.
• Someone slipped drugs in my drink last night.
• A tree fell on my car.
• My monkey died.

Before you waste a lot of time dreaming up an original excuse of your own, though, consider this – according to the majority of the managers surveyed, the most believable excuse was simply saying, “I’m sick.”

No matter what excuse you use, just remember to stay away from social media if you are playing hooky because your boss does pay attention to what you say on Facebook and Twitter. The Inqusitr reported last year that one woman was fired over a Facebook rant she posted after getting passed up for a promotion.

According to WKRC TV, one in four employers caught an employee lying about being sick by checking social media. Nearly one-fourth of those employers actually fired the employee, and over half of them confronted the employee with the lie and reprimanded them.

Have you ever used a fake excuse for missing work?

[Image via Ranker]