Smart and Ridiculous Excuses for Missing Work

It’s a day like no other. You wake up with your adorable toddler sleeping  soundly between you and your husband. You open the curtain and the sun greets you with the sunniest smile. The day is so beautiful you decide to miss work. So you call your office and say you’re not feeling well, but you’re 100% sure your employer doesn’t buy it. Read on to know some of the smart and ridiculous excuses for missing work.

Excuses for missing work

The recent CareerBuilder.com survey on absenteeism indicates that about 33% of employees have played hooky from work at least once a year, calling in sick when in fact they were perfectly well. About 9% of them admitted that they called in sick because they didn’t want to attend a meeting, to avoid the temper of their boss, or buy some extra time to finish projects that were already due.

Other employees skipped work because they needed to recharge and relax (30%), go to their doctors (27%), catch up on much needed sleep (22%), run personal errands (14%), catch up on household chores (11%), or spend quality time with family (11%). A huge 34% said they simply didn’t like to go to work that day.

Smart excuses

“I’ve earned it” is one smart excuse. No one can question a good performance. Come to work early and finish your tasks on schedule and then negotiate a leave in advance. According to Andrea Nierenberg, The Nierenberg Group president, “Really work when you’re there, so you’ll be able to feel good about taking time off.” A doctor’s appointment is also a legitimate excuse for missing work. Make the appointment early in the morning or late in the afternoon, say around 3 pm.

If your job requires that you meet and court clients, then playing golf with a potential client is a good excuse. Just make sure that you meet with the client, don’t just call in and say you did. Having cramps is also a smart excuse for missing work. According to Jennifer Newman, Lippe Taylor Public Relations vice president, “It’s such an embarrassing topic that nobody will ever challenge it…It’s one of those things that men honestly have no clue about, and women can sympathize with.”

Ridiculous excuses

All of us have our share of ridiculous excuses for missing work, some can be very common while others can be out-of-this-world excuses. Employers provided some outrageous real-life examples in the CareerBuilder.com survey: an employee who hit a turkey while riding a bike, one who donated too much blood, an employee who was kicked by a deer, and an employee who swallowed too much mouthwash.

There’s also this employee who was told by a psychic to stay at home and an employee who had nothing to wear to work because his wife just burned his clothes. Another ridiculous excuse is that of an employee who called in to say he suffered from a heart attack early in the morning, but he was feeling good now.

Overall, playing hooky won’t win you fans at work. When you skip work, someone else will have to do your laundry just to make it to the deadlines. It won’t also help your career.

Summer Job Tips for Teens

Summer has just ended and your friends proudly parade in front of you the fruits of their summer jobs - iPods, video games, cell phones, and tan lines they got from Panama City Beach. Oh, you were able to get yourself an iPod. Only that it’s not from a summer gig, but from helping your mom fold your dad’s boxers.

Well, there’s always a next summer and it’s not too early to be anxious and excited about summer jobs. A summer gig not only gives teenagers dollars to spend, it also teaches them about money management and responsibility, and gives them real-life experiences. So start planning as early as possible to bag a summer job.

Here are some tips to beat the competition and land the most in-demand summer job:

Be connected

Now is the right time for you to touch base with a family friend who owns that restaurant. While it is OK to ask your parents to pay a visit to their friend, it is best to talk to him or her yourself. This will show that you’re really interested about getting the job and that you’re not being forced by your parents. You can also approach employed friends and former bosses. Building connections isn’t exclusive for stuffy guys in suits anymore.

Be updated about the local “release dates”

You need to know when the local colleges and high schools close up for the summer. It will be very easy if you’re studying at one of these schools. Despite repeated warnings and advices, teens will wait to search summer gigs until the last minute. Early bird catches the worm and you don’t want to be picking over the leftovers, do you?

Be honest

Being honest includes telling the truth during your first conversations with the potential boss. Don’t tell him or her that you can work 24/7 when you can’t. Don’t over-commit. Also, don’t claim that you have certain experience and skills even if you don’t. Sure it’s exhilarating to be on the verge of getting a summer gig, but the best way to turn yourself into ash in your new job is to tell a lie. One more thing…

Don’t be “that girl” or  “that guy”

Competition can be very fierce when finding a summer job. So don’t do something stupid that would make your potential employer to disqualify you in the game early. The list of embarrassing job application faux pas is long - from that annoying cell phone ring tones during an interview to wearing board shorts and slippers to smoking while being interviewed. It won’t hurt to try to exercise some common sense.

5 Illegal Job Interview Questions

You’re more than prepared for your final job interview, but one thing is bothering you. You’re an immigrant and a single parent. You know that disclosing information about your status will make or break your chances of getting hired. And you’re well aware that you’re at a disadvantage.

You don’t have to worry if the hiring manager is professional enough to avoid asking illegal questions. It is illegal for the interviewer to ask candidates about their age, national origin, disabilities, or marital or parental status. But some managers aren’t so savvy at all. If confronted by such situation, politely refuse to answer and point out that it’s illegal to ask that question.

Here are some illegal job interview questions that you must be aware of:

Illegal Question # 1: Where were you born?

This seemingly innocent question during the getting-to-know-you stage of the interview could be used to illegally obtain information about your national origin. Hiring managers are also not allowed to ask whether or not you’re an American citizen. They can ask whether you’re authorized to work in the country, but they should avoid asking you about your citizenship.

Related to the question about national origin is the question about your native language. Hiring managers should not ask this question unless the position requires you to speak languages other than English. For example, if you’re applying for a contact center job and your responsibilities include supporting French-speaking customers, the hiring manager can ask whether you speak French.

Illegal Question # 2: Are you married?

Again, this question seems like small talk, but certainly not in job interviews. Questions about your children might also sound innocent, but it is not. You must be very aware that one can’t discriminate you based on your marital or parental status. The hiring personnel may also ask you if you plan to get pregnant. Usually, they ask this question to screen out those who might avail of a maternity leave. Asking someone if she wants to get pregnant is downright rude, and now it’s illegal as well.

Illegal Question # 3: What is your religion?

This question is illegal because the company can’t discriminate based on your religious beliefs. Avoid answering questions such as whether you observe Ramadan, Good Friday, or Yom Kippur. If the hiring manager is concerned about your availability, he or she could instead ask whether you can work on weekends or holidays.

Illegal Question # 4: How old are you?

Despite laws prohibiting companies to discriminate on the basis of age, many companies continue to avoid hiring older employees. They fear excessive absences, poor health, and rising costs of healthcare. Age discrimination in the workplace is definitely illegal, and you should not answer such question.

Illegal Question # 5: Do you have a chronic illness or disability?

Chronic illness and disability should not be used as factors in hiring. Hiring managers can only ask such question if the job requires specific physical tasks like installing cables in ceilings and walls, teaching dance lessons, or instructing for fitness.

6 Reasons to Turn Down a Job Offer

For many job hunters, a big paycheck is at the top of their considerations. But sometimes, it is just not what you are looking for in a job. Of course, while paycheck is a very important factor, you have to consider the credibility and the name of the company and the nature of the job to know whether the pay is worth it. Here are some factors you need to remember when you are not sure whether to get or turn down a job.

Reputation of the company

If you hear bad things about the company you are eyeing, then chances are something wrong is happening in that organization. As the saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. But what if the negative feedback came from bitter ex-employees? Just to be sure, you have to research the track record of the company yourself. After all, you would not want to work for a company with a bad reputation.

Career growth

See if there is room for growth. The best employers are the ones that provide you growth within the company. You can have a full understanding of the job description during your application process. As soon as you have the chance, discuss with the hiring manager potential for growth.

Turnover rate

Check also the company’s turnover rate. If it has a high turnover rate, research why employees do not last in the company. You can find this out during the job interview. It is OK to ask the interviewer why the position is vacant, why there is a high turnover rate, and what happens next for employees in this post. Read between the lines as the hiring manager may not be direct when answering your question.

Willingness to negotiate

The company’s willingness to negotiate is another factor that you must consider when deciding whether to accept or turn down a job offer. If you think that the pay is below average, try to arrange for additional benefits like talent retention plans, retirement plans, medical aid, and incentives. But if the company is not willing to negotiate with you, then turn down the offer.

Workplace environment

One reason many employees do not last in their job is they are not comfortable with the workplace. Before you make any decision, try to ask the hiring manager to show you around the office to have a feel of the company’s environment. Before you go any further, you have to see if your values and the organization’s values fit.

Work-Life balance

See if you can balance work and personal life should you decide to accept the job offer. A job that prevents you from prioritizing your life is not worth it as it hinders your development. The cliché “work to live, but don’t live to work” holds especially true here. If accepting the job means kissing your life goodbye, then turn down the offer - unless you are really serious about prioritizing work over your life.