US workers: 30% fake it

NEW YORK – A third of US workers say they have called in sick with fake excuses at least once this year, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

One in 10 said they skipped work to avoid a meeting, buy time on a project or avoid the ire of a boss or colleague, the survey found. It was conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com, an online jobs site.Other respondents cited a need to relax and recharge, visit a doctor, sleep, run errands, catch up on housework or spend time with family and friends.Most employers in the survey said they typically did not question the reasons workers gave for being absent.However, 31 per cent said they have checked up on an employee who called in sick, and 18 per cent have fired a worker for missing work without a legitimate excuse.The nationwide poll was conducted online among 3 388 hiring managers and human resource professionals and 6 842 US full-time employees – Nampa-ReutersIt was conducted by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com, an online jobs site.Other respondents cited a need to relax and recharge, visit a doctor, sleep, run errands, catch up on housework or spend time with family and friends.Most employers in the survey said they typically did not question the reasons workers gave for being absent.However, 31 per cent said they have checked up on an employee who called in sick, and 18 per cent have fired a worker for missing work without a legitimate excuse.The nationwide poll was conducted online among 3 388 hiring managers and human resource professionals and 6 842 US full-time employees – Nampa-Reuters