Calling in sick when you're not could cost you your job

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Most people can get away with bending the rules a little at work. Spending an extra 10 minutes at lunch or browsing social media on the clock likely won't get you in trouble. 

But calling in sick when you're not could cause problems and, in some cases, cost you your job. That's according to a survey from CareerBuilder, the popular job-hunting website.

It turns out faking an illness is pretty common. How common? Forty percent of workers have reported calling in sick over the last 12 months when they were perfectly fine.

Most frequently, those calling in sick missed work because of doctor's appointments (30 percent), trailed by those who didn't feel like working (23 percent) and those hoping to relax (20 percent).

Others cited a desire to catch up on sleep (15 percent), needing to run errands (14 percent), doing work around the house (8 percent) and having plans with family and friends (8 percent).

The problem is that more and more people are getting caught, and more employers are taking steps to find out who's telling the truth -- and then firing those who aren't.

CareerBuilder reports that 38 percent of companies check up on workers who claim to be sick, compared to 26 percent that have had to fire someone who was caught in the act.

So the next time you're pondering in calling in sick so you can enjoy a day of leisure instead, or handle personal matters, you might want to think twice. Your job could depend on it.

But if you insist on fibbing to your employer, consider coming up with a plausible story. Why? Experts say your boss isn't likely to buy a farfetched excuse.

Here are some of the unbelievable excuses companies shared with CareerBuilder:

  • A bear was in employee's yard and they were too scared to go outside;
  • Employee's phone exploded and it hurt their hand;
  • Employee accidentally ate a toothpick in his food at restaurant;
  • Employee called in "fat" because uniform didn't fit;
  • Dog swallowed employee's car keys so she was waiting until they emerged;
  • Employee left his clothes at the laundromat;
  • Employee wasn't sure how the solar eclipse would affect them so it would be safer to stay at home.

In the off chance you are sick, don't come into work.