Most people have been late for work at some point in their lives, and research proves that many workers admit to regularly clocking in way later than they should. But why? Well, the common reasons employees give are the usual stuff you’d expect: heavy traffic, adverse weather conditions and broken alarm clocks. But what about the more unusual excuses? We’ve scoured the internet to find some of the truly wild, weird and wonderful reasons workers really gave for arriving to the office late. Of course, we’re not recommending that you actually use them, but hopefully they’ll amuse you…
1. “I had to untangle some squirrels”
Reddit user mard86 wrote:
“My co-worker sent an email saying he would be late because he was trying to untie a squirrel tail knot. I asked for a picture, and he delivered.”
Here’s the original email:
“I was pressed into squirrel rescue this morning on my way out. 5 young squirrels got tangled in Christmas lights in my neighbor’s yard. We got the lights off, but now their tails are one big knot, so I have to bring them into a rescue place to untie them, as I am unequipped to untie squirrel tail knots. I should be in this afternoon.”
If you couldn’t make it up, chances are it’s true.
2. “I was getting new emojis.”
In autumn 2015, thousands of workers the world over were late for work because they’d updated their phone. Apple helpfully offered iPhone users the chance to update iOS whle they slept. A convenient offer, apart from the fact that the update erased their alarm, meaning that many overslept. Several took to social media to express their fury at being late, but some were still pleased that the whole thing had given them a set of shiny new emojis. Priorities.
3. “I had to wait for a sloth to cross the road.”
We’re all used to seeing animals across the road – how many times have you seen a daring cat dart from one side to the other? In Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica earlier this year, commuters found themselves stuck when an adventurous (and adorable) sloth decided to cross a busy main road. The sloth is the slowest mammal on Earth, which meant tailbacks quickly built-up. Eventually, a helpful member of the public grabbed the sloth and took it to the other side of the road, but plenty of people had already been delayed.
4. “I was playing Pokemon Go.”
In summer 2016, the world was gripped by a compelling craze: Pokemon Go. So much so, some people found catching the pocket monsters more important than getting to work on time. Turns out that for many, the morning commute was packed with Pokestops that were just too tempting to pass by. The Pokemon Go craze has died down a little now, as all crazes do, but it surely won’t be the last augmented reality game to get players so hooked they clock in late.
5. “I was having sex.”
We’re not sure every manager would be as sympathetic as this Reddit user’s was…
6. “A cat hijacked my car.”
Intagram user Misssohmasteelcat was made late for work by a cheeky feline who wouldn’t budge from her dashboard. She wrote:
“I don’t know this guy, but he made me late for work by refusing to get out of my car. He likes to nap in my car and make my seats all very furry and ginger. He is so adorable.”
7. “My llama gave birth.”
On questions website Quora, someone asked users the craziest reasons they’d heard colleagues give for being late to work. One user responded to say that a high-powered manager at his former firm called in to say she was going to be late because her llama had just had a baby. According to him, ‘the llama excuse’ became the default reason for people avoiding workplace social arrangements.
8. “I dreamt I was already at work.”
Not one but two of the respondents to the Quora question said that they or a colleague had been late for work because they had overslept and dreamt that they were already in the office. Dreams can take us to some pretty strange places, but work? For many that would be more like a nightmare.
9. “I had to go skiing.”
Each year, website CareerBuilder.com compiles a list of the most outlandish excuses for being late that bosses have heard in the previous 12 months. This one, from their most recent survey, really takes the biscuit:
“There was fresh powder on the hill. I had to go skiing.”
10. “I was putting a raincoat on my cement duck.”
In 2012, someone told CareerBuilder that their employee claimed to be late because they were putting a raincoat on the cement duck in their garden. Rain was due later that day, apparently, so presumably the worker was worried the statue would get wet. Hadn’t they ever heard the phrase “nice weather for ducks?” Also, if you really must put a raincoat on your fake duck, how long does it actually take to do?