Best and Worst Excuses for Being Late to Work

Best and Worst Excuses for Being Late to WorkBest and Worst Excuses for Being Late to WorkSometimes, you just cant help being late for work. Stuff happens, things go wrong, and it can be hard to get out of the house to arrive at work in a timely manner. It happens to alfruchtwein everyone at one time or abedrngnisher, so be prepared to handle it appropriately. Depending on your manager, it might not matter or it could be a big deal. There are lots ofexcuses for missing work, either for taking a day off or for coming in late. Some excuses are legitimate, such as when a babysitter cancels at the last minute, you or a family member are sick, or your car doesnt start. Other excuses, however, are just too bizarre or inappropriate. Even if youve run out of excuses, there are some reasons that you shouldnt use when youre telling your boss why youre running late. Best Excuses for Being Late to Work Asurveyconducted byCareerBuilderreports on the most common excuses employees provide for b eing late for work. Traffic, sleep schedules, and weather conditions are the top three. Being tired and forgetful round out the top five reasons for being tardy. Traffic - 51%Oversleeping - 31%Bad weather - 28%Too tired to get up - 23%Forgetting something-13% Other excuses that work well include having an appointment, a sick child, a school delay, car trouble, mass transit delays, a family emergency or illness, house problems, or waiting for a service person for repairs. Strange Excuses Not to Use There were also some strange excuses in this years survey.Even though they are creative, these excuses probably wont work withyourbossormanager. Its too cold to work.I had morning sickness (it welches a man).My coffee was too hot and I couldnt leave until it cooled off.An astrologer warned me of a car accident on a major highway, so I took all backroads, making me an hour late.My dog ate my work schedule.I was here, but I fell asleep in the parking lot.My fake eyelashes were stuckverzi erung together.Although it has been five years, I forgot I did not work at my former employers location and drove there by accident. More Bizarre Excuses Other excuses reported in an earlier survey were asequally weird Employee claimed a zebra was running down the highway and held up traffic (turned out to be true).Employee woke up on the front lawn of a house two blocks away from his home.Employees cat got stuck in the toilet.Employee couldnt eat breakfast he ran out of milk for cereal and had to buy some before getting ready for work.Employee was late to work because he fell asleep in the car when he got to work.Employee accidentally put superglue in her eye instead of contact lens solution and had to go to the emergency room. Employee thought Halloween was a work holiday.Employee said a hole in the roof caused rain to fall on the alarm clock and it didnt go off.Employee was watching something on TV and really wanted to see the end.Employee forgot that the company had changed locations.Employee got a hairbrush stuck in her hair.Employee was scared by a nightmare. When Excuses Dont Work Even though you think it might be acceptable to be late once in a while, your boss might not agree. The majority of employers (60 percent) say theyexpect employees to be on time every day, and 43 percent have fired someone for being late, up from 41 percent last year. If youre late on a regular basis, figure out how you can change your morning routine so you can make it to work on time. It could be as simple as showering at night instead of inthe morning, getting up 15 minutes earlier, taking a train thats a few minutes earlier than you usually do, or packing your lunch the evening before. Tips for Giving Excuses When Youre RunningLate If you have run out ofexcuses, think twice before you decide to get creative. Before you consider using one of these creative excuses, keep in mind the following advice about giving excuses for missing work Let your boss know ASAPIf you know inadvancethatyou will need to take a personal day, let your boss know in person orvia emailas soon as possible. If it is a last-minute decision, contact your boss as early in the morning as you can. If possible, offer to come in early or stay late to make up for some of the hours lost. Be (mostly) honestThere is a good chance that a bald-faced lie to your supervisor, colleagues, or clients will come back to bite you. Its not always easy to remember what you said to whom, and getting caught in a lie is not good for job security. Some employers also follow up with employees to see whether they are lying. Therefore, if you can, be honest about why you are missing work or coming in late. Dont overshareAn overly detailed excuse might sound fake, even if it isnt. And if you are missing work for a reason you cannot share with your boss for example, if you areinterviewing for another job you can keep the interview secret without lying. A simple excuse for example, saying you hav e an appointment (which you do) will be honest without raising questions. While honesty is often the best policy, always keep your excuse simple, and dont go into detail. Use excuses sparinglyThings happen that are out of our control we get sick, we get a flat tire, our childs school cancels. However, try your best to excuse yourself from work onlywhen absolutely necessary otherwise, your employer and co-workers mayconsider you unreliable. Be thoughtful about when you skip workIf it is at all in your control to select when you skip work such aswhen you have a doctors appointment try to plan a time when your absence will not be so perceptible. You might try to make the appointment at the beginning of the day, or toward the end of the day, so you are still at work for a solid few hours. Whenever possible, try to come in early or stay late to make up for the lost time.