Ok. Maybe that isn't a fair title. Perhaps some of the excuses are true. But I would like to see what others have been told as far as why someone called off. Here's a few of my favorites:
1. My babysitter is in jail so I can't come in.
2. I burned my hand on some food so I can't work today.
3. I forgot I had to work today, so I stayed up too late and am too tired to come in.
4. My child got stung by a bee (several hours ago) so I don't want to come in.
5. I'm mad at (supervisor) so I'm not working today.
I have used "I'm stressed to death and am taking a "mental health" day today." Yes, I was wrote for an absence, lol. But I was being honest. Anyway, what have you heard?
I work as a unit secretary. One night last summer I got a call from one of our day shift unit clerks at 8pm saying she would not be in for her day shift the next day because...wait for it...she was LOCKED IN HER CAR!![/quote']
Was she just planning on staying in there for the rest of her life??
When I was a nursing supervisor I had an NA call to say he could not come in because he was lethargic.
I one time had to call in because my dog was suddenly very ill, took him to the emergency vet where he needed two blood transfusions. My manager was upset that I told the truth about a sick dog, guess it got around the hospital pretty fast, she said if it happened again I did not have to be so honest.
Several days ago I called to say I'd be late because my neighbor ran over his foot with the lawn mower, I had to call 911 then watch his two kids until my wife came home.
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
I work as a unit secretary. One night last summer, I got a call from one of our day shift unit clerks at 8pm saying she would not be in for her day shift the next day because...wait for it...she was LOCKED IN HER CAR!!
I know someone who freaked out because she had locked herself in her car with her infant. Then she proceeded to tell everyone she knew about what happened, solidifying this to legend status.
Best call-off excuse I've heard, though, is "I have to get the locks changed on my house tomorrow."
Another colleague's co-worker called in sick, then went fishing. A photographer from the local paper was covering the first day of Fishing Season, and took the man's picture, posing proudly with his fish.
Specializes in long term care, alzheimer's, ltc rehab.
I know someone who freaked out because she had locked herself in her car with her infant. Then she proceeded to tell everyone she knew about what happened, solidifying this to legend status.
Best call-off excuse I've heard, though, is "I have to get the locks changed on my house tomorrow."
'Kay.
LOL all I could do at that point was say "ok, hun, I'll transfer you to the charge nurse." Unfortunately, she was terminated shortly afterwards so I never DID get the full story, but it must have been good because he (the charge) was beet red in the face struggling not to crack up lol
Specializes in Psych, Case Management, Care Coordination.
I don't say why I'm calling in. Its none of their business in most cases. Once I was literally trapped in an alley by two foot deep snow. I called plowers and even the street department to plow my alley to no avail. I couldn't get out of tge allwy to get on the cleared roads to get to work. The person taking my call basically accused me of lying. I was shocked and hurt by that. From then on I don't give a reason.
I was also once trapped in an alley with snow 2 ft. deep AND a mound of snow at the end of the alley where the street had been plowed, so I believe you! Of course, I donned my ex-husband's insulated coveralls and dug my way out. Made it to work, three hours late.
I hate, hate, hate to take off work, or call-in. My Dad has worked 30+ years and has missed maybe once...cracked rib when some guy had a heart attack and crossed the line into the path of my Dad's truck. My Mom, who just retired from nursing, NEVER called in. EVER. So, I have some pretty strong sense of responsibility.
In a dusting of snow, I hit a tree on my way to work. I call my job and told them, even though it wasn't 2 hours, I wouldn't be in due to the accident. They told me they would send someone to pick me up at the accident so I could work. Needless to say, I am no longer at that job!
You know, it is OK to call off work when YOU deem it appropriate. Workplaces provide PTO and policies around it for a reason.
While I don't agree with making up asinine excuses (or giving any, really), if I can't make it into work, well, then, I can't. My reasons are my own, and it is on my conscience. I have called off because of legit physical illness, and also because I truly believed I would go on a complete nut if I had to be at work. For the record, the last reason was long before I worked in healthcare. Once, I did call off because I was approaching 30 hours without sleep, BEFORE my 12 hour night shift. And, not because I was partying. Not going to do that to myself, or my patients.
Good for those folks that "would never" call off short of being on your death bed. Great. But, who does it really serve?
Just as the guilt trip pleas to come in on nights off - hospital staffing is not my responsibility. Follow policies, be an overall good employee, and the occasional "oops" will be OK. Unless you work in a sweatshop. In that case, try to find other work.
I absolutely understand there are people who wouldn't be able to work without their glasses--I'm one of them. I didn't really think about someone saving the same pair of frames forever to save money and who would therefore have no other spares. It just surprised me that someone who depends on their glasses would have NO backup plan if their lone pair was lost or damaged![/quote']
You make a good point. I initially thought, " God forbid that nurse makes a med error cuz he/she misreads the dosage. Also, I have driving restrictions due to my vision. I must wear correction lenses. BUT, when we know we must have our glasses to work and drive and that we have responsibilities and others relying on us, we should do our best to have an extra pair.
I've used conjuctivitis(I had it as did 3 of my kids).
Ok, kind of long.
When I was 22 y/o, I was working for a very small family owned company in which we worked within the owners' home (the dining and living room area were turned into an office.) I had worked for them for 4 years at the time, and we were a close group in the office. They were like a second family to me. I even dog sat for the owners on some weekends and holidays when they were out of town. My point in this set up is that we were all close, and I was reliable and trustworthy.
One night I went to a bar in town with my friends. The week prior my parents and siblings had all had conjunctivitis. A week had passed, so I thought I had escaped getting pink eye. Well the night I was at the bar, I got a little tipsy. I noticed my eye was starting to become a little blurry and watery throughout the night. I didn't think much of it at that time, and I continued to have a good time out with my friends. Well who do I run into at the bar but the owners of my work (husband and wife.) I chatted with them for a few minutes, (knowing it was obvious that I was a little tipsy) then went on about the rest of my night. The next morning I got up for work and realized I had not escaped conjunctivitis as I had thought. I then had to call my work and tell my bosses whom I had just seen the night before at a bar, that I had pink eye. I was so embarrassed. If my bosses and coworkers did not know me better, they would have thought for sure "Pink eye, yeah right. You're hung over." I was relieved when everyone laughed about it, because of how unbelievable it sounded. The next few years that I worked there, they still teased me all in good fun that I ran into my bosses at a bar (drunk) and called in the next day with pink eye.
I absolutely understand there are people who wouldn't be able to work without their glasses--I'm one of them. I didn't really think about someone saving the same pair of frames forever to save money, and who would therefore have no other spares. It just surprised me that someone who depends on their glasses would have NO backup plan if their lone pair was lost or damaged!
You make a good point. I initially thought, " God forbid that nurse makes a med error cuz he/she misreads the dosage. Also, I have driving restrictions due to my vision. I must wear correction lenses. BUT, when we know we must have our glasses to work and drive and that we have responsibilities and others relying on us, we should do our best to have an extra pair.
My glasses usually cost me close to $300.00. I can't afford to buy a second pair "just in case". And I only get new glasses when my prescription changes. Wearing an old prescription is not safe or good for your eyes.
Elle23
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