Outrageous Excuses for Being Late to Work

Published: Feb 19, 2016
Updated: May 12, 2021
1 minute read

Outrageous Excuses for Being Late to Work

Outrageous Excuses for Being Late to Work

Outrageous Excuses for Being Late to Work

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, these excuses involve everything from wild animals to wardrobe malfunctions to, yes, even dangerous hair dryers.

Dependably Undependable

Dependably Undependable

25% of workers say they come in late to work at least once a month, and 13% say they do so once a week.

Reasonable Tradeoff

Reasonable Tradeoff

62% of those who arrive late will stay after-hours to make up for it.

Most Common Late Excuses

Most Common Late Excuses

Traffic: 53%, Oversleeping: 33%, Bad weather: 28%

Out of Time

Out of Time

Two of every three employees and employers feel that the concept of working 9 to 5 is an antiquated practice.

Staunch Standard, Part I

Staunch Standard, Part I

51% of employers expect employees to be on time every day, even though most feel ‘9 to 5’ is outdated.

Staunch Standard, Part II

Staunch Standard, Part II

41% of employers have fired someone for being late.

Outrageous Late Excuses: Snowbound

Outrageous Late Excuses: Snowbound

“There was fresh powder on the hill. I had to go skiing.”

Outrageous Late Excuses: Animal Kingdom

Outrageous Late Excuses: Animal Kingdom

“A black bear entered my carport and decided to take a nap on the hood of my car.”

Outrageous Late Excuses: Fashionably Late

Outrageous Late Excuses: Fashionably Late

“All of my clothes were stolen.”

Outrageous Late Excuses: Blown Away

Outrageous Late Excuses: Blown Away

“My hair caught on fire from my blow dryer.”

Outrageous Late Excuses: Honest Answer

Outrageous Late Excuses: Honest Answer

“I thought of quitting today, but then decided not to, so I came in late.”

Dennis McCafferty

Dennis McCafferty

Content Writer

Dennis McCafferty, a writer for eWeek, Baseline and CIO Insight, has more than 20 years of experience as a writer. He has covered a variety of technology and business topics for a number of publications, including those of Ziff Davis. Dennis was also an editorial staffer for USA Weekend, the nation’s second-largest magazine, with more than 22 million readers.

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