Better Late Than Never?

Or, "If Only I Could Get My Gun Back, I'd Get in My Rowboat and Find the Guy Who Stole My Daffodils"

Some of the more unusual excuses that managers said they had heard from employees over the past year in CareerBuilder.com's annual "Late to Work" survey:

1. While rowing across the river to work, I got lost in the fog. 2. Someone stole all my daffodils. 3. I had to go audition for American Idol. 4. My ex-husband stole my car, so I couldn't drive to work. 5. My route to work was shut down by a presidential motorcade. 6. I wasn't thinking and accidentally went to my old job. 7. I was indicted for securities fraud this morning. 8. The line was too long at Starbucks. 9. I was trying to get my gun back from the police. 10. I didn't have money for gas because all the pawn shops were closed.

Other Findings:

24%: Workers who owned up to inventing excuses for tardiness. 27%: Bosses who said they are skeptical of their workers' excuses. 15%: Workers who said they are late to work at least once a week.

Source: Online survey conducted February 11 to March 13, with 2,757 employers and 6,987 workers responding.