“I was late for work because the universe told me to take the day off.”

According to a recent CareerBuilder survey, we’re fast approaching that time of year when employees call out sick the most. Most employees stay home when sickness strikes hardest: December (20%), January (15%) and February (14%).

But how often are employees who call out sick actually under the weather? The survey indicates that 38% of employees have called out sick, when they’re actually ok. That’s up from 28% in 2014.

What the explanation for the spike? Maybe it’s Netflix (as the survey jokingly intimates). Maybe it’s to binge-read this blog. Or maybe, employees are getting more creative with the sick-day excuses. Here are the hella-best from the survey:

Employee claimed his grandmother poisoned him with ham.
Employee was stuck under the bed.
Employee broke his arm reaching to grab a falling sandwich.
Employee said the universe was telling him to take a day off.
Employee’s wife found out he was cheating. He had to spend the day retrieving his belongings from the dumpster.
Employee poked herself in the eye while combing her hair.
Employee said his wife put all his underwear in the washer.
Employee said the meal he cooked for a department potluck didn’t turn out well.
Employee was going to the beach because the doctor said she needed more vitamin D.
Employee said her cat was stuck inside the dashboard of her car.

What’s the best sick-day excuse that one of your employees has offered to you? Email me . Or let me know in the comments down below.

Image Credit: Evan on Flickr.