Analyzing the least-thought out excuses to be late for work.

Throughout my retail management career, I have uncovered some not-so-good excuses that employees have given me after showing up late for work.

I forgot to set my alarm clock back for Daylight Savings Time. (Fall)

This was an employee that had a constant attendance problem. If you forgot to set your clocks back, you would have been an hour early for work! It took the employee about 45 minutes to figure out that that excuse can only work in the Spring, when the clocks are set forward.

I got pulled over on the way to work.

I love this one. You shouldn’t have violated any traffic laws. You’re late because of you. Don’t you dare tell me you were speeding because you wanted to be on time!

My car wouldn’t start.

Now this one is almost believable. The last one who told me this excuse was smart enough to ride their bicycle to work that day. Only one problem, they were in the newspaper that night for getting a DWI the day before and losing their license. Good effort though.

My wife forgot to set the alarm.

It wasn’t your fault! What an unusual circumstance! When I saw this employee’s wife at the Christmas party, that weekend, she was quite shocked to hear how her husband used her as his scapegoat. She proceeded to explain that not only did they have separate alarm clocks, but in the last few weeks, he had been sleeping until about twenty minutes before he had to be to work. I’m glad I brought it up. He he.

When you are late for work, there is no acceptable excuse other than death or hospitalization of you or someone close. What you say to your boss doesn’t matter, in their eyes you’re just late, period. Don’t spend too much effort coming up with an excuse.