TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
Sean's Blog
Sean's Blog
Wackiest Excuses for Being Late to Work
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Some people wake up each morning before the alarm rings, glad to see the glowing sun and excited to start the day. They arrive to work whistling and are hard at work before most people even arrive. These rare creatures, also known as "morning people," are incomprehensible to those of you whose morning routines are exercises in panic and frustration.

A lot more people belong in that latter group than you might have guessed. Fifteen percent of workers admit to arriving late at least once a week, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey.

Why are so many of us running late?

You might be surprised that the snooze button is not the primary culprit of tardiness. Thirty-two percent of workers attribute their late arrivals to traffic gridlock. Seventeen percent claim a lack of sleep is the reason, and 7 percent have trouble arriving on time because they need to get their children ready for school or day care. Other issues, like forgetting something at home or not feeling well, are also popular.

Fortunately for late arrivers, 43 percent of hiring managers won't count tardiness against you as long as you meet deadlines and turn in good work. Of course, some managers feel differently and will hand you a pink slip if you're late several times within a year.

Use your imagination

More than 27 percent of hiring managers say they are skeptical of employees' excuses for showing up late. It turns out their doubt is warranted: 24 percent of all employees decide to make up a fake excuse rather than tell the truth.

What does this mean to you?

If you're sitting in a traffic jam watching the minutes tick away and you've decided honesty isn't the best policy for you, think of a believable and acceptable reason you're walking in late. After all, if you were a hiring manager who heard any of these 10 real-life excuses for being late, you'd be suspicious, too.

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog.

2. Someone stole all my daffodils.

3. I had to go audition for American Idol.

4. My ex-husband stole my car so I couldn't drive to work.

5. My route to work was shut down by a presidential motorcade.

6. I have transient amnesia and couldn't remember my job.

7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning.

8. The line was too long at Starbucks.

9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police.

10. I didn't have money for gas because all of the pawnshops were closed.

Be a crowd-pleaser

When it comes to punctuality, your best bet is to take cues from your company's culture. If everyone is diligently working when you drag yourself through the door each morning, then you probably stand out. However, if everyone filters in at their own pace between 8:45 and 9:15, then an occasional late arrival will probably go unnoticed.

Habitual lateness, on the other hand, will help neither your career prospects nor your workplace relationships. For one thing, your boss and co-workers are relying on you to be at work when you're scheduled to arrive; you don't want to disappoint them. Also, just because nobody confronts you about your tardiness, that doesn't mean no one's watching the clock and forming an opinion about you or your work ethic. These judgments can damage you when it comes to performance reviews and promotions. Don't let a few extra minutes of sleep cost you your reputation – or worse, your job.

June 24, 2008 | 7:16 AM Comments  3 comments

Tags:
You must be logged in to add tags.


Comments

Seanamo Sean Amos
June 25, 2008 | 4:00 AM

You should be creative
faywang Wambui
June 25, 2008 | 9:36 AM

hillariouss!
Seanamo Sean Amos
June 26, 2008 | 2:24 AM

Hilarious but valuable
Sean Amos's Profile

Sean Amos's Friends


Latest Posts
4 Steps To Learn...
4 Steps: Stop Worrying
Wise African Proverbs!!
How To: Recover From A...
PAPA ROACH - SCARS LYRICS

Monthly Archive
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008

Change Language


Tags Archive
abc4all africa childexploitation childlabor corporatesocialresponsibility crime csr culture democracy development dream earlymarriages economics economy education electioncrisis funny kenya labour marathon mdgs odm peace poem politics religion sean stock violence

Filter By Type
Events
News
Travel
Topics

Friends
James K. Kamau
A Better Community for All (ABC4All)
Aare Kornar !
abhishek goyal
Adeshina Olusanya
adewole taiwo
Agent of Change International
Ahmed
Ahmed Ragab Al-Kotby
Allan Cox
Angie
Angie C.
asha juma
Ateku Dickens Alubaka
AWellEarth.net
Bernard Muhia
Bunmi
Carolina
Cathbert Riphaty
Christabell
chybuz
clarita zarate
code
Connie Wokuri
Daniel Hatcher
Danjuma Mohammed
DASA
Dave Matthews
David
davis
Dineth Mallikarachchy
Dingchao
dj spyce
Ekanath Khatiwada
Eric
Erick Ochieng Otieno
Erin
Ermias Mergia
esra
Esther Agbarakwe
evbobun patrick
Frank
George C. Owens
German A. de la Espriella L.
Gin Gin
gracie
Hadlach
hluli
hope boy
ilyes
Inga
Ionara Silva
IZA888
J. Marc FEUSSOM
jane
Jason Haber
Jennifer Corriero
Jessica Lauren
Jessica Lauren L. Lambert
jessievanm
Joanne Rhodes
John NB
jOrOss
Joseph Jesus PAREDES OBLITAS
Joshua
judy
Justin Del Oso
kaka
Kane Said
Karimi
Kate Jongbloed
Keely Boom
Keith Riek Opio
Kelvin Uever
Ken Auma
Kenyaabc4all
Konan Richmond
kumar, kundan
Kyaw Su Thway
Lester Concesso
Lilian
Liz
losulah
Lynette Odhiambo
M@peace
M@University
Madelaine Hamilton
Maina J Karugia
Malcolm Lawrence
MARCKENSON
Martha M.M
Martin Tairo M.
Mary
matassi
MEDIATHON
mohamed elkashash
mohammad Dify Al-sabaa
Mohammed Elmustafa
Mrs. Alicia Szilagyi
Mubarak M Omar
Muhammad Danish
museruka john emmanuel
NANA
NANA
Nimo
Nomadess
one
Owulezi
Patricia Sudi
Patrick Karanja
Pau Tapay
Pierre Louis Fritz Gerald
ra4
Rabiu Umar Maska
Remisson Aniceto
RIZSAFI
Robin Approach
Ruth Yatoi
Saeed Hussain
Sahro Ahmed
Sam
Sanki
Sara Donají
Sarah
Sexy Lexy
Sharon
Spaizz
sphe
Steve otieno
Sudip Aryal
Terri
Tigist Kenney
tih felix nkambeh
UFJ
Ugonna Wachuku
veenos
Vickyday2007
VICTOR RASUGU
VICTORY ASHAMOLE C
Vladimir
wako-joel
Wambui
WeAreTeachers
Yassir EL OUARZADI
YVON BEKALE
Zalex 100% xox
~ Mostafa Nejati ~
عمرو عادل على شعبان

Links
0451183940
TIG


95459 views
Important Disclaimer