Employers expect to see more empty seats around the office as the holidays approach, according to a recent CareerBuilder survey. One-third (33 per cent) of employers reported that workers call in sick more often during the winter holidays.

While the cold and flu season is a heavy contributor to workplace absences this time of year, some workers may be using sick days to take care of some holiday shopping or visit with family. According to the American survey, which had more than 2,600 employers and 4,300 employees participate, twenty-nine per cent of workers have admitted to already playing hooky from the office this year, citing errands and plans with family and friends among the top reasons for calling in sick when they were well.

But not all employees miss work for such simple reasons. Here are the top 15 most unusual excuses employees gave for missing work:

• Employee’s 12-year-old daughter stole his car and he had no other way to work. Employee didn’t want to report it to the police.
• Employee said bats got in her hair.
• Employee said a refrigerator fell on him.
• Employee was in line at a coffee shop when a truck carrying flour backed up and dumped the flour into her convertible.
• Employee said a deer bit him during hunting season.
• Employee ate too much at a party.
• Employee fell out of bed and broke his nose.
• Employee got a cold from a puppy.
• Employee’s child stuck a mint up his nose and had to go to the ER to remove it.
• Employee hurt his back chasing a beaver.
• Employee got his toe caught in a vent cover.
• Employee had a headache after going to too many garage sales.
• Employee’s brother-in-law was kidnapped by a drug cartel while in Mexico.
• Employee drank anti-freeze by mistake and had to go to the hospital.
• Employee was at a bowling alley and a bucket filled with water crashed through the ceiling and hit her on the head.

Texting in Sick

When it comes to notifying employers that they are taking a sick day, some workers reported they are bypassing a phone call to the boss and relying on digital communications:

• Phone call – 84 per cent
• Email – 24 per cent
• Text message – 11 per cent

Top Time of Year for Absenteeism

While employers reported heightened absenteeism around the holidays, the prime time of year when companies say employees call in sick is in the first quarter:

• January through March – 34 per cent
• April through June – 13 per cent
• July through September – 30 per cent
• October through December – 23 per cent

Checking Up On Employees

Calling in sick without a legitimate excuse can have serious consequences. Fifteen per cent of employers said they have fired a worker for this reason. Twenty-eight per cent have checked up on an employee, citing the following examples:

• 69 per cent required a doctor’s note
• 52 per cent called the employee
• 19 per cent had another employee call the employee
• 16 per cent drove by the employee’s home

“While outrageous events are known to happen, frequent absences and over-the-top excuses can start to bring your credibility into question,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “Many employers are more flexible in their definition of a sick day and will allow employees to use them to recharge and take care of personal needs. This is especially evident post-recession when employees have taken on added responsibilities and are working longer days. Your best bet is to be up front with your manager.”

CareerBuilder is the global leader in human capital solutions, helping companies target and attract their most important asset – their people. For more information, visit www.careerbuilder.com.