Some of essentially the most pathetic excuses used to WFH
- Have YOU heard a worse WFH excuse? E-mail: [email protected]
The Prime Minister unveiled his party’s controversial plan to allow for ‘flexible working’ earlier this week – but it appears employees have already mastered the art of finding any excuse to WFH.
Some of the most ridiculous reasons offered up for staying in include not wanting to go out in the rain, having to look after a relative’s pet, and not being able to find house keys.
And if that’s not bad enough, one union has even put together a WFH guide detailing ‘valid reasons no reasonable boss can ever refuse’ to help lazy workers. They include ‘car troubles’, ‘water leaks’ and ‘sick pets’.
While employees would have previously jumped through hoops to make sure they were at their office desk before the clock struck nine, the smallest of inconveniences are now exploited as reasons to stay in.
Among the worst excuses employers told MailOnline they have heard included needing to keep an eye on a family member’s dog, and having to stay home because a ‘sibling had been arrested’.
Other choice ‘reasons’ included looking after a pet tortoise as well as it being ‘too hot’. The loss of house keys was another eye-rolling excuse given.
Labour has introduced new employment privileges for everyone beginning new jobs, including the right to work from home
One X user tweeted about how contracting Covid is used as an excuse for when people don’t want to come into the office
Meanwhile, one person opted to work from home because they were running late trying to find their keys
And despite it being four years since the pandemic first hit, some employees proudly boast that ‘saying you’ve caught Covid-19 is still the perfect excuse’.
One person took to X yesterday in response to US President Joe Biden catching Covid, writing: ‘Oh yes, Covid.
‘That old chestnut when people in the office are bothering you and you want to work from home.’
Another social media user took to the platform after Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau contracted the illness last year to boast that it is ‘the absolute best excuse’ to get out of work.
They wrote: ‘I’ve tested positive for Covid’ is the absolute BEST excuse to get out of work in our lifetime.
‘Politicians are using it daily and you can too! Bonus: you don’t even have to do the ‘fake sick voice’ when the office calls.’
Speaking to MailOnline, one employee admitted: ‘If you say you’ve tested positive for Covid, employers themselves will ask you to stay at home even if you say you want to go into the office. It still works.’
Among the more surprising reasons people have admitted using to work from home is struggling to find house keys.
‘I got ready to go to work this morning and spent 45 minutes looking for my key. I was running so late so, I decided to WFH.
‘I made myself a cup of coffee and proceeded to the fridge to get milk. Guess what I found? My house key was in the fridge.’
Meanwhile, the owner of a business told of some more creative excuses they had heard from employees in the past year.
The employer said among the most ridiculous excuses they’d heard were ‘I can’t come in because I’m looking after my mum’s one-eyed dog’ and ‘I can’t come in because my brother has been arrested’.
Recent research has shown that one in six adults work permanently from home, while two in seven are hybrid workers
One person tweeted about working from home due to car trouble, and how the expectations have changed since pre-pandemic
Some have also come up with smart ways to get their bosses to tell them to stay home.
One employee said to their boss: ‘I can come in but you might not want me to because my mum has Covid and my child was with her on the weekend.’
According to research by comparison site Finder.com, one in six adults now work exclusively from home, while two in seven – 28 per cent – are hybrid workers.
A search of social media also reveals that ‘car problems’ and inconvenient weather are also go-to reasons used to log in from home.
‘Working from home today because car trouble’, one X user wrote. ‘Two years ago I would have gotten an Uber to the office. My how the world has changed.’
Difficult weather conditions have also been used as an easy excuse to WFH
During heavy rain in Sussex in late 2022, one employee said: ‘Not seen rain like it in Sussex for quite a while, got drenched putting the bins out.
‘Might have to WFH today – any excuse.’
Another joked alongside a meme: ‘Dear HR, I hope this mail finds you well.
‘The rain has been very heavy. My streets are flooded making it impossible for me to transit to work without getting messed up.
‘In this light, I won’t be able to work from the office but I will, remotely.
‘Thank you for understanding.’
Another X user joked about using weather conditions to get out of going into the office
A guide published on the UNI Global Union’s website even takes users through ’10 Good Excuses to Work from Home’, in which it suggests employers will approve WFH requests involving ‘car troubles’, ‘water leaks’ and ‘sick pets’.
The 10 reasons it advocates using are: a dental emergency, doctor’s appointment, family obligations, important packages on delivery, injury, road work, car trouble, water leak, no childcare, and a sick pet.
Under ‘important packages on delivery, the guide says: ‘Valuable or sensitive items often require a signature. Obviously, you will have to stay at home to receive them!
‘And even if signatures are unnecessary, nobody in their right mind would want to entrust their confidential information to a random neighbour next door.’
It also suggests that water leaks are a valid reason if ‘you have never used it before’.
‘Water leaks are often unexpected, and the urgency to address the problem as soon as possible makes it almost impossible to stick to your regular office schedule.
‘Furthermore, since the situation often involves professional inspections, you need to stay home to work with the repair services while ensuring the safety of your living space.
‘No boss can refuse such a valid excuse, especially if you have never used it to work from home before.’
