What are the worst call in excuses you've heard?

cmonkey · Jul 8, 2010

One time I called and said I was going to be late because I couldn't find my keys. Turns out I left them hanging in the door when I came home from a particularly grueling shift in the morning.
Luckily I found them and made it on time. :)

I'm already training myself to put my wallet, keys, phone, and shades in the SAME PLACE when I walk in the door. I'm the worst at being able to find critical items. :rolleyes: With the kids, at least, they respond when I holler for them.

wooh, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2010

I also believe in giving as many GI details as possible when someone is difficult about your call-in. Although I did feel guilty the time I was calling in for food poisoning, she wasn't giving me a problem at all, but I actually started puking in the middle of the phone call.

Dixiecup · Jul 9, 2010

Was on a hayride, fell off the wagon and got ran over. When she came to work two days later, had the wheel marks cross her chest to prove it!

sharpeimom · Jul 9, 2010

from a psych aide: "my mother just came and she'll get mad if i just leave." (huh?) :uhoh3: :eek:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2010

I called in sick after getting bitten by a raccoon. Became septic and had to get rabies shots. It bit completely through my right hand and I couldn't use it for a few days - plus it was draining pus.

TDCHIM · Jul 9, 2010

Wish it could be that easy. I rarely call off and always for a REAL reason. But the LTC facility I work for now, requires staff calling in sick to come in to be evaluated by one of the staff nurses. The rationale being that it saves the employee from needing a doctor's note. Now, some chronic offenders, or someone calling off 2-3 days in a row, I can see the REQUEST that someone come in for an assessment, but a requirement? Really?

Oh wow. That's unbelievable. I'd love to see that one challenged!

clemmm78, RN · Jul 9, 2010

Actually, where I fill in from time to time as an occupational nurse - a well known respected world-wide agency - states that if you call in sick, you cannot take a sick day unless your illness has been confirmed, in person, by the staff nurse. So if you wake up with the flu and call in, I can't give you a sick note. The other way is to bring in a doctor's note.

TDCHIM · Jul 10, 2010

Actually, where I fill in from time to time as an occupational nurse - a well known respected world-wide agency - states that if you call in sick, you cannot take a sick day unless your illness has been confirmed, in person, by the staff nurse. So if you wake up with the flu and call in, I can't give you a sick note. The other way is to bring in a doctor's note.

Certainly I see the point of a doctor's excuse, verifying some form of illness, for sick leave. However, having to come in and reveal whatever illness you have to an employee of your company? What if your family doctor says you're sick but the staff nurse you have to see knows the place is short-handed and says you aren't sick enough to stay home? That sort of system seems open to a lot of abuse by the employer and I do question its legality. I'm not implying you would do this, clemmm78, just that it gives the average employer a great deal of unchecked power. Yikes.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

Certainly I see the point of a doctor's excuse, verifying some form of illness, for sick leave. However, having to come in and reveal whatever illness you have to an employee of your company? What if your family doctor says you're sick but the staff nurse you have to see knows the place is short-handed and says you aren't sick enough to stay home? That sort of system seems open to a lot of abuse by the employer and I do question its legality. I'm not implying you would do this, clemmm78, just that it gives the average employer a great deal of unchecked power. Yikes.

I think it is insane to require a doctors note or an on-site medical assessment to use a sick day. It does seem like an abuse of power, doesn't it? I agree the problem with this is that the nurse (or doctor) is working for the company and can 'rule' whatever they see fit.

In my early 20s I worked as a waitress at a popular seafood restaurant. The management were really picky about hiring and we never had enough help. Most of of worked 70+ hours a week (without choice) with absolutely no benefits. If you were sick they required a doctors note. It was insulting, especially since they didn't offer health insurance. I worked there for 2.5 years afraid to call in because I didn't want to lose my job or pay to go to the doctor.

When I was pregnant with my first son I worked (retail shipping) the entire pregnancy (and the year prior) without calling in once.. All because I was 'afraid' to call in sick. I had been working there for 2 years before I called in the first time and it was because my son (about 5 months old at this point) was sick and my DH couldn't take the day off. My boss threw a fit! Seriously? Over 2 years and an entire pregnancy without calling sick and you're going to guilt me now??

I'm one of those people who loath calling in and leaving people in a lurch. It's not that I don't want to call in.. it is just the anxiety of having to make that phone call is worse than the ailment I want to call in for. :uhoh3:

I agree a lot of people abuse sick time but at what point do we treat adults like adults?

wooh, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2010

If you don't trust me to decide whether or not I'm too sick to come in to work, then you sure don't need me on your payroll assessing your facility's patients.

sharpeimom · Jul 10, 2010

many years ago, i worked in a private psych facility who had a system whereby you called in and simply said "i 'm not coming in today. please charge me a personal day." personal days were for your own flu bug etc., a sick child, a personal day etc. they only asked that you didn't call in at the very last minute unless absolutely necessary.

the only time i (young and healthy) called in, the cat had a vet appointment. the charge just said, "ok"

and that was that. the next week, a friend who worked in my department, had a six year old son who had to have an emergency appy and the brand new weekend supervisor demanded that she bring in a note from the surgeon. oh, she brought one in... along with his appendix in the jar (her son had wanted it it to show his friends) and a picture of his incision! that was the end of that!

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jul 10, 2010

A hurricane. We were 3 hours from the coast.

Their friends or relatives are in town.

They have to go to church.

Sporting events, especially the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the World Cup.