The Best and Worst excuses for being Late to Work
Being late to work can happen to anyone. While some excuses for being late to work are understandable, others might come across as less believable. It’s crucial to make sure your excuse sounds reasonable to your manager so that it doesn’t negatively impact their perception of your performance. Here’s a list of the best and worst excuses for being late to work. Here are some best excuses for being late to work.
Best Excuses for Being Late to Work
Here are some of the best excuses for being late to work that may sound reasonable to your boss:
Overslept due to cold medication
- “Apologies for being late this morning. I took cold medicine last night, which made me oversleep. I’ll be there in … minutes.”
Needed to drop the kids at school first
- “My spouse isn’t feeling well, so I had to take the kids to school. I’ll be in … minutes.”
Lost my cat / dog
- “I couldn’t find my cat last night. Apologies for the delay; I’m on my way.”
Traffic jam
- “There’s been a major accident on (road name), causing heavy traffic delays. I’ll be in as soon as the road clears.”
Bus broke down
- “The bus I was on broke down. I’m looking for an alternate route and will be there as soon as possible.”
Subway closed
- “The subway line (name) is temporarily closed for unscheduled maintenance. I’m finding another way to get in and will be there shortly.”
Taking a relative to the doctor
- “No one else is available to take my aunt/uncle to a medical appointment this morning, so I’m stepping in. I’ll be in soon.”
Picking up important documents from the local office
- “The document pickup hours are only available in the morning at my local office. I’ll need … more minutes and will be right over.”
Car/bike won’t start
- “My car/bike won’t start this morning, so I’ll be a bit late. I’ve called for an alternative and will be on my way soon.”
My child is sick
- “My child was unwell last night, so I’m taking them to the doctor. I’ve arranged for someone to take care of them afterward and will be there in about an hour.”
Unexpected early arrival of my parents
- “My parents arrived early from their trip, and my sibling can’t pick them up from the airport. I’m helping them out but will inform you if I’m further delayed.”
Waiting for home care nurse for my spouse
- “My spouse is recovering from surgery, and the nurse hasn’t arrived yet. I’m following up and will be in as soon as possible.”
Babysitter called in sick
- “Apologies, my babysitter called in sick this morning. I’m arranging a backup and should be there in … minutes.”
Slipped and fell this morning
- “I slipped on the stairs this morning. I’m fine but just want to check with my doctor to ensure there are no issues. I’ll be slightly delayed.”
Dealing with a migraine
- “I had a migraine last night, but it’s easing up. I should be in within the next few hours.”
Car maintenance delay
- “I needed to drop my car off for scheduled maintenance, but the staff arrived late. I’m heading to work now.”
My house was burglarized
- “Our home was broken into last night, and the police are here collecting evidence. I’ll be in as soon as they’re done.”
Tips for Giving a Credible Excuse for Being Late to Work
- Inform your boss as soon as possible: Let your manager or HR know right away to show accountability.
- Honesty is the best policy: Being honest helps maintain trust and professionalism at work.
- Don’t give unnecessary details: Keep your explanation simple and straightforward.
- Avoid frequent lateness: Treat lateness as a rare occurrence to avoid any negative perceptions.
Worst Excuses for Being Late to Work
Here are some of the worst excuses for being late to work that may sound unreasonable or absurd to your boss:
- Thought today was Sunday.
- Too tired and fell asleep in the parking lot.
- Went to the wrong office location.
- Couldn’t find my work schedule.
- Avoided the freeway due to an astrologer’s prediction.
- My pet got stuck in the toilet.
- A zebra was loose on the highway, causing traffic delays.
- Woke up somewhere far from home.
- Ran out of milk for breakfast.
- Lost my contact lenses and couldn’t find them.
- Needed to finish a TV show episode.
- Alarm clock malfunctioned due to roof leak.
- Had a scary nightmare and couldn’t sleep afterward.
- Hairbrush got stuck in my hair.
Read also: The Best Time Management Ever : Proven Strategies for Getting Things Done
Sources: PinterPandai, Wise Step
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