Everyone's been there — staring at the clock in despair, knowing you won't make it in time for the morning meeting, so you're resigned to email your boss an excuse. But what will you say?
From a run of the mill alarm mishap to losing an important document before work,
"With more companies offering flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and flexible schedules, employees may feel less pressure to provide excuses for taking time off or being late," says Nic De Bonis, a spokesperson at WorkYard. "However, it's also important to note that some employees may still feel the need to provide excuses, especially if they work in a more traditional work environment where there are strict expectations for attendance and punctuality."
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To further De Bonis' point, traffic and transportation issues topped the list, making up 25% of responses. Following close behind was oversleeping — including being too tired and procrastinating — which accounted for 15% of responses. And while these may be more retrofitted to those physically going into the office, there were also some entries that reflected the struggles of the hybrid worker.
"As technology continues to advance, it may become easier for employees to manage their workload and communicate with their colleagues, regardless of their physical location or schedule," De Bonis says. "This could further reduce the need for excuses. Overall, while the trend toward greater flexibility in the workplace may lead to changes in the way employees give excuses, it's difficult to predict the exact impact it will have."
Curious about whether your go-to excuse made the list? Check out WorkYard's list of top excuses and the percentage of employees who embrace them when they're running late to work:
