Employees get creative on tardiness

Based on results from CareerBuilder L.L.C.'s annual survey, benefits managers should be prepared to hear some creative excuses for employees arriving to work late.

Cow-chasing duties, hair on fire and a bear are just some of the most outrageous excuses.

More than 3,200 workers participated in the job search website's survey in November. Twenty five percent of workers said they come in late to work at least once a month, and 13% say they come in late weekly.

Some of the strangest excuses include: “I was detained by Homeland Security,” “I had to finish watching 'My Name is Earl,'” “All of my clothes were stolen,” and “A Vaseline truck overturned on the highway and cars were slipping left and right.”

The outlandish reasons for employees arriving late are a lot more entertaining than the survey results; traffic, oversleeping, bad weather, and needing to get kids to daycare or school are usually to blame.

According to CareerBuilder, the perpetually tardy may soon be able to be able to save their excuses, because some organizations are moving towards more flexible schedules and away from the traditional “9 to 5” model.