“The car won’t start”, “I’m sick”, “I had a family emergency”, these are just some of the most frequent excuses not to go to work. The justifications can range from family illnesses to being locked up at home; creativity has no limits.
Zety, a consulting platform for the world of work, conducted an analysis on the most common lies not to show up for the working day, either in person, during 2021. Situations related to health status are the most frequent, this is perhaps the reason why only 1 in 10 workers has been discovered by their boss.
These excuses are successful because health issues They are usually perceived as sensitive matters and, therefore, almost no boss doubts when the employee claims to have a problem of this nature.
“Whether it’s about our health, that of our children, partners, pets … health problems they are one of the most common (and successful) inventions when it comes to avoiding our responsibilities ”, points out Tobías Brandan, a Zety consultant.
According to the platform, seven most recurring lies to miss work are:
- I’m sick
- I had a family emergency
- I have personal problems
- I have an appointment with the doctor or dentist
- My car broke down
- I have a contagious disease
- My children are sick
According to the analysis, 84% of workers You have lied about a situation related to their or a relative’s health in order not to attend the office. The covid-19 pandemic has given more reasons for these justifications not to be called into question.
“With several countries that have been in serious trouble due to massive contagions, added to public health and remote work as part of the national debate, it would be enough to cough a couple of times to let you work for two weeks from home, ”says Tobías Brandan.
Although there are seven most recurrent lies, Zety identified up to 27 common excuses linked to government procedures, loss of home keys, death of a relative or problems with pets, despite not having one.
Paradoxically, the 91% of workers he claims that he has reported to work while ill. “In short: I avoid work when I am well; I go to work when I’m sick ”, says the specialist.
The study also shows that the younger you are, the more likely you are to lie to avoid a day at work. For example, 56% of employees under 25 years has shown greater creativity in excuses not to work; on the contrary, only 27% of the workforce over 58 years of age has resorted to this practice.
Response to work environment
“In the office there is a lot of pressure”, “my boss was in a bad mood”, “I needed a day to recover from stress”, “I am working between 50 and 60 hours a week”, “I just want time to be with my family” , these are some of the most common phrases among the reasons workers have for lie and miss work.
According to Zety’s analysis, poor work situation and lack of time for family are the most important triggers for lies not to work, confirming that work environment, leadership style, workloads and the little reconciliation between professional and personal life leads people not to be honest to say that they need a break or a quality moment with their loved ones.
“The Labor conditions they must improve so that workers are not tempted to lie. Trust and honesty must be part of both companies and employees ”, explains Tobías Brandan.
On the other hand, Indeed specialists state that it is normal to need a day off at work, but still for valid reasons, there are right and wrong ways to approach this request.
Some recommendations not to invent a justification and request a day off are:
- Explain the real reasons
- Tell the truth to maintain confidence
- If it is a private matter, do not give so many details
- Ensure that you will return soon
- If possible, give advance notice
“If you can’t get to work for whatever reason, make sure you clearly explain a good reason to your boss. Communicate openly and honestly to avoid putting your career in jeopardy, “suggests the online job board.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx