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Daily Talker: Sick Call Survey

Americans are generally a hard-working bunch, but there are times when some workers feel the need to call in sick when they aren't actually ill.

A new survey from CareerBuilder is shedding light on sick calls nationwide.

Calling in sick while actually feeling healthy is on the rise. CareerBuilder found that 38 percent of workers have done so in the past year, up from about 28 percent in the previous year.

But about 54 percent of the more than 3,300 full-time workers that were polled said they had showed up for work despite being sick because they felt the work wouldn't get done, while about half said they couldn't miss a day of pay.

The following are the worst excuses given by employees for calling in sick:

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

What's the worst excuse for calling in sick you've ever heard?

Leave your comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter using #WBZTalker.

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