Readers Respond: Your Best Excuses From Tardy Employees

Have stories to tell about excuses employees make when they're tardy for work? I've heard lots of strange, fabricated, wild, crazy excuses about why employees are tardy for work. One of my best excuses ever was the afternoon shift employee who was tardy for work and claimed that her grandfather's funeral had run much longer than expected - forgetting that this was the third grandfather whose funeral attendance she had claimed. Won't you take a minute to share your best employee excuse for coming tardy for work.

Find more Reader Responses to various workplace questions.

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Jeff, we definitely are responsible. Yet so many people want to point a finger away from themselves and assign blame. Donna, we struggle with it every day. New days, new challenges. Perfecting it takes a commitment that a lot do not wish to make. What can WE do about that?

—Guest zdobstXxKpAmb

Leave

One of the employees could not come to the office one day as he had to go to the hospital for his cat and the cat had died that day. And the very next day he was telling me that he again wants to have sasual leave for watching a cricket match in the stadium.

—Guest Farzana

"Emergency"

I can't make my Monday shift because I have emergency choir rehersal.

—Guest Jenn

Anal Glaucoma

I had an employee call in one time and say he was suffering from anal glaucoma and when I asked him what that was he said, "I cant see my ass coming into work."

—Guest Waylon

Lies About Absences

I got a call from one of the housekeepers. She said she would not come in. "Why?" - "I don't feel well. I woke up throwing up and dizzy." I said fine, take the day off. This obviously puts a lot of stress on other housekeepers. That afternoon she called me again. She said she went to the hospital was told she had an infection. She said she would not come in to work the next day. I asked for a doctor's note where it stated she had to stay Home "I didn't get one, I just got the Prescription". I said, "Bring me that at least", She said she had to use it to get her medicine. I said bring it when you're done. She said they retain the prescription. I told her to bring it before getting the medicine. She made up all kinds of excuses why she couldn't. At this point I knew she was not being honest with me, so I told her, "I'll call the hospital and ask. Don't worry." She got really, really nervous and said, "Ok". HIPAA prohibits anyone from requesting info, but I got what I wanted.

—Guest Mark

Teacher's Absenteeism

I have a male teacher who is always absent, late, has no lesson plans, has no tests, no notebooks, no pupils' output, drunk, always files for a half day sick leave...

—Guest lyza

Why You Must Deal With Absenteeism

Guest Alex was correct on one item...forming a relationship and being human when it comes to your employees. However, I STRONGLY disagree with Alex that the employer should bend over backwards to accommodate perpetual absenteeism and excessive tardiness. As a manager of over 150 employees in a very large corporation, I can tell you that there are policies and procedures for a reason. Yes, you can show compasion, but to ignore the rules on tardiness/absenteeism causes huge issues. You can try to help the team member address the issue, let them be a part of the problem solving. But in the end, if they choose to be tardy or absent, they need to know there are consequences to their actions because they are adults in the real working world. You, as a manager, have to follow policy and procedure or risk your position as well. Also it brings up the whole favoritism issue. Just something to think about...

—Guest Ms Manager

A bird crapped on my head

I had an employee say that a bird crapped on his head and he had to go take another shower and then another one crapped on him again and he had to go back and change his shirt.

—redawson

Let's get this...

I'm not feeling well...cough, cough, so I won't be in! She then forgot to hang up the phone and as she walked away from the phone, I could still hear her speaking..."Lets get this party started!"

—Guest Lin

Employee Excuse

Employee called in saying he had slipped on the ice......in June!

—Guest Kevin

Late for work again

My coworker stated she would be late for work because she had a 30% off coupon for Kohls and needed to use it.

—Guest Elaine

Incredible

I cannot believe how one-sided and wrong (!!!) this article is. The focus should be on "helping" and "forming a good relationship" with employees. "Forcing" and making policies and procedures will damage that relationship and backfire. It is essentially "legalized" bullying. It says "you either do what we say or you are out of here." You will not only lose a lot of time but also lose good employees like this! What a waste of time! Instead, you need to find the real causes. You need to have a good heart (very important! if you don't have a good heart, forget it, nothing you do will work, go get a good heart first) and be humble. You need to build relationships with each of your employee and truly want to help selflessly. Be humble and ask the employee: "Have we done something wrong as a company? How can we improve? We really need and value your opinion if you would like to share with us." If the problem is on the side of the employee, try to help them, not force them.

—Guest Alex

Lift slow

Many times there is the excuse that the lift takes longer than required, or there is a long waiting time before getting a lift.

—Guest mohun

Hurt shoulder

I had an employee say that he was late for work because he hurt his shoulder having sex. I wanted to tell him that this is why it's strongly suggested that you have a partner.

—Guest CMP

Drove to Old Office

We recently moved around 5 miles closer to an employee's house and he would come in late and say, "The car keeps driving to the old office and I have to turn around and come back."

—Guest Rusty