As an employer (or indeed employee), you’ve probably heard a whole host of reasons (or excuses) from your staff or colleagues as to why they can’t make it into work– a bad migraine, a child with chicken pox, or a broken down car for starters… but have you ever had a member of staff claim they couldn’t make it in because their only pair of work trousers was in the wash?

Well, unbelievably some bosses have – and according to a survey by absence management specialists ELAS, that’s just one of a number of weird and wonderful justifications UK employers have heard for their employees not making it into the office.  The study into the top ten worst excuses for absence saw a dog’s birthday party hitting the number one spot, and here are our personal favourites from the list…

·         It’s my dog’s birthday and I need to arrange a party for him

·         My wife earns more than me so I have to look after the kids

·         I’m too drunk to drive

·         The dog ate my shoes

·         I got arrested!

We’d love to hear the reasons you’ve been given for team members taking the day off – the wackier the better (we won’t name names J) – so do please share them with us at @Paycare using hashtag #notcomingin