Why does Ferris get to ditch when the rest of us have to go? According to a study done by CareerBuilder, based on the surveys of over 5,000 hiring managers, human resources professionals, and U.S. workers, nearly 30 percent of employees have called in sick when they were actually feeling fine. Maybe there are actually fewer Jeannie Buellers out there than we think.
(Photo Credit: Justin Ried/Flickr)
Mashable reports that people are making up excuses even when they have accrued PTO and no excuse is needed. The definition of Paid Time Off is just that — get paid to stay home or do whatever you want.
If you’re going to pull a “Ferris,” just know that companies aren’t taking your word for it any longer and many will actually ask for a doctor’s note. Research showed that 15 percent of employers have actually driven past the “sick” employee’s house to verify if they were at home. (No numbers on if they then knocked on the door and offered chicken soup to really rub it in.)
Pro-tip: If you fake sick to go to the big ballgame, don’t take a selfie in the stadium and post it online. You’ll be your own worst enemy and could actually get fired. Almost 20 percent of employers have fired someone for calling in with a fake excuse. The biggest tip off? Twitter, instagram, Facebook, and other personal social accounts. Put your phone away, and if you’re going to risk getting fired in the pursuit of happiness, don’t document it.
It will be of no surprise to most that the research reports people with high-stress jobs in sales are the biggest fakers and skip work the most frequently while those in the leisure and hospitality industries are least likely to call in sick.
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Have you ever called into work sick — when you really weren’t? We want to hear from you! Leave a comment or join the discussion on Twitter.
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