It happens to the best of us. Everyones fine, but I have to stick around to get some insurance info., I had to wait out that crazy storm this morning. By using a GPS app on your phone, you can plot out your path and avoid major roadblocks, accidents, and traffic congestion. Set ANOTHER alarm if one alarm isnt enough. This is not what you want to hear as a boss that your staff is not motivated to do the work and so much so that they are coming in late to work. It was a mistake on my part and unprofessional. 2. We've all been late to work. The earlier you can begin a dialogue about the situation, the more you can show that this kind of behavior is unacceptable in the workplace and encourage the employee to discontinue such actions. But for a smaller group people, knowing they are running late for work does absolutely nothing except stimulate their creative juices in order to make up the latest excuse as to why they are late . If running late is indeed something you cant help, with our list, we hope you dont run out of excuses! Showing up late to work happens. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You would have normally just changed into some new ones, but as mentioned, you had no other clean options! Road closures due to accidents are one of the top reasons people arrive late to work on a consistent basis. 5. 25. He or she can say: I woke up in the morning with a heavy heart and realized that I am not feeling well. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To park in your clearly defined and labeled parking spot is definitely a bold move. Sometimes you are only 5-10 minutes late for work, which doesnt seem like a big deal, but can get you in trouble if its a persistent thing. If so, you might start scraping the bottom of the barrel for new excuses for being late to work. If it is a last-minute decision, contact your boss as early in the morning as you can. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You had to sort this out immediately in fear of a criminal going on a spending spree with your card. 01 I regret to inform you that I am going to be late for work today because the subway has been closed due to unscheduled maintenance on the (name) line. Maybe we forgot to set an alarm. Lam Research ( LRCX -0.90%) stock keeps going up. Arriving on time is one of the best ways to prove your workplace professionalism. Being late to work is a frustrating experience. Made by Pros. And these reasons may cause an employee to lie so as not to share these intimate details. I must have left my lights on last night., My toddler loves to hide my keys. Or maybe you immediately offer up solutions to fix the fact that you missed an important meeting that morning. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Traffic delays are one of the major reasons for being late to work. Have you ever gone so hard the night before that you woke up in completely unfamiliar territory? If you use this excuse for being late to work, it will make you look lazy. Hopefully, this wont be a permanent solution, but it can definitely help in the short term. Quick Tips to Stay Focused at Work. Look at you! Another white lie that will sound like a meaningful reason for being late. There are hundreds of good quality shows out there, but there is a time and place for slumping into your couch and catching up on the latest episodes. Try to avoid using this excuse unless you want to look like a psychopath. Late for the office? For the safety of everyone on the elevator, you graciously volunteered to wait for the next ride up. Heres to hoping they know absolutely nothing about cars. For example, you can get away by saying that your spouse or your kid is not keeping well and you had to stay home to take care of them. Angela is a passionate freelance writer who enjoys putting a unique spin on topics like career advice, entertainment, translation and health. This could be caused by road works, a breakdown on your route or even an accident. Of course, for this excuse to work, you have to actually have kids! Hopefully, your boss doesnt pester you to explain, but otherwise, its personal sounds like a pretty good reason to let you off. Some employers also follow up with employees to see whether they are lying. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. If youre late for work, you need to give a valid reason for your delay. It does not depend on the weather, or time of day. If waking up from a terrible nightmare had you too shaken up to head to work on time, its best you think up a more reasonable excuse for your boss. What you have done by admitting this is to say that you are expendable. So not only are you late to work, you are also a criminal now apparently. The classic excuse of your car not starting is a good one though and can be used throughout the year. Telling your boss that youre running late due to severe menstruation cramps is a way to soften them up. The classic excuse of your car not starting is a good one though and can be used throughout the year. Maybe it was to shovel snow from their driveway to pick up a large package or to help clean up the pieces from a giant decorative vase that shattered everywhere. Sometimes telling the truth about your situation is the best path forward, even if it reveals a vulnerability about yourself. Your child spilled something all over your clothing. 11, 2023 Despite your best efforts, there will be days when you have to miss work with little to no notice. However, this morning you really pushed your luck and all the gas fumes dried up. Rules to Follow When Calling in Sick to Work. Laid Off vs. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. In the meantime, Im still shooting to get [projects that are due today] to you by [deadline for today] and make the [meetings you have for today]. Maybe you work in a high-rise building and one of the elevators is out of service. Were sure your boss has, too. Be careful when doing this because you might wind up using an excuse that is not acceptable or can get you further into trouble than by simply being late. Or, if you also emailed them, you could say: I sent you an email, but wanted to again apologize that Im running late this morningI should be in by [time]. Especially if you ate Chipotle the night before. Ill be late because I fell asleep on the train home and missed my stop, only to wake up three hours further down the track and not able to get back the same evening. 1. This not only applies to physical issues, but mental health problems you might be suffering as well. A new survey of 1,000 businesses with up . (6 min) Journal Editorial Report: The week's worst and best from Kim Strassel, Kyle Peterson and Dan Henninger. Maybe you thought youd take advantage of the downtime and sleep in because there isnt much work for you to do right now. When you lie, you break that trust and that will upset an employer even more. Some excuses, particularly for acute lateness, are fairly universally accepted an accident or illness, for example. If you have a manager who loves animals, this excuse will go down pretty well. Whether your boss believes you or not depends on your general work ethic and past experience. Tips for Giving Excuses When You're Running Late, I had morning sickness. Maybe you dont have a meeting scheduled for 8 AM sharpor maybe you do and youre already stressed!but regardless, you know your boss isnt going to be happy to see you waltzing in behind schedule. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If youre frequently running behind, it may be time to re-evaluate your morning routine. How to Answer the Most Common Internship Interview Questions, Why Your Resume Doesn't Get You Job Interviews, How to Write a Compelling Engineering Cover Letter Including Example, Write a Letter of Interest for Your Dream Job. I also still have on the docket to get you [projects that are due today] by [deadline for today] and have no doubt those will be ready in time. You can share what you feel comfortable sharing. Car trouble can strike at any moment! I forgot that the company had changed locations. Sickness. If . I got really late for work. The risk of getting caught in a lie is too great, and when something actually happens to you where you need their trust theyll be less inclined to give it to you if youve fibbed before. Everyone does it, and usually when it occurs once or twice its no big deal. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, 20 Good Excuses to Miss Work on Short Notice, How to Call in Sick When You Have Diarrhea, How to Respond When a Recruiter Reaches Out: 3 Email Templates and Key Tips, Flirty or Friendly? Stuff happens, things go wrong, and it can be hard to get out of the house to arrive at work in a timely manner. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Just so youre aware, I have [whats on your schedule] and still plan to get [projects that are due today] to you by [deadline for today]. Hi [Name], just wanted to let you know that Im running [minutes] late due to [reason]. Usually, it's OK. People understand. Workers are still prioritizing quality of life when it comes to relocation, but one notable factor is returning to its pre-pandemic level. 1. Abnormally bad traffic conditions can be a valid excuse for being late to work. Have you ever used any good excuses when you were running late for work? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Your boss is usually cool with being a few minutes late, but now youre pushing an hour and you arent entirely sure how they will react. Fired: What Are the Differences and How Do They Affect Your Job Search? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Frankly, you've got no excuse not to. 22 Good Excuses for Being Late Jamming with the traffic: This is literally the most commonly used excuse but at the same time is understandable. A move that has cost you precious time finding a new parking spot and made you late for work. Brandy holds a JD from Harvard Law School. This might even be the best excuse to get out of work the whole day! Yes, TV has never been better. The SBA made about $11.2 billion in PPP loans across several rounds in 2020 and 2021 a total of about $790 billion disbursed. It does not depend on the weather, or time of day. Listen. Things You Should Know wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Im really sorry, but Im running late this morning because of [reason]. 7. These excuses are probably heard quite often by your boss, regardless if they are true or not. For this excuse to work, of course, youll need to have a car, or a job where driving to work is a thing. A little white lie never hurt anybody, right? This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Weve all had mornings where weve woken up feeling like death warmed up. Instead of saying you spent half an hour scrolling through Facebook, here are 20 more reasonable and valid excuses for being late to work. Dont get too specific with your excuses. Yes, this may be dramatic, but its better than telling your boss that you wasted time talking to your friend on the phone! Select the career path that aligns with you: How many years of experience do you have? 'There was too much traffic'. I couldnt eat breakfastI ran out of milk for cereal and had to buy some before getting ready for work. What you can control is how you react to it. % of people told us that this article helped them. As a result, you needed a few extra minutes to clean yourself up. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Im really sorry, but Im going to be [minutes] late this morning. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Whatever you think will impress your boss enough to convince them to overlook this minor inconvenience, do it. Being tired and forgetful round out the top five reasons for being tardy. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You never want to get to the point where you're walking into the office at 11 AM and your boss has no idea where you've been and why you missed half the day. It's not your fault, and there's no proving that it was actually the snooze button that kept you from arriving on time. It can affect your travel time not only if youre driving, but also if you take the bus or any other form of public transportation. Worst case, you actually show up on time and alls forgotten. Depending on your manager, it might not matteror it could be a big deal. (This was from a male employee.). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 'My babysitter let me down'. Best Excuses for Being Late to Work: As per a survey done by CareerBuilder, some of the common excuses employees use when being late are Traffic, sleep schedules, and weather conditions. Sometimes, you just cant help being late for work. If youre going to miss something, you need to be apologetic and acknowledge that youre impacting others, says Brochstein. You were about to leave for work when all of a sudden you got a call. Have your partner or a close friend check on you. ). Ask yourself if your boss maybe rather not know the reason and instead focus on whether your lateness is a chronic issue. Stay calm in heavy traffic and remind yourself that there's nothing more you can do to change the situation. If youre rarely late and are on good terms with your manager, telling the truth about sleeping in by accident or forgetting something on your way in should be forgiven. You never want to get to the point where youre walking into the office at 11 AM and your boss has no idea where youve been and why you missed half the day. Whether its physical or mental is another story. Let us know what they are by commenting in the section below. Sometimes, you dont need a full-blown cover story to explain why youre late. I hope to make it by [meeting] but if not [how youll make up for missing it]. It also might be a better strategy if you want to be sure your boss gets your message before its too late (like if theyre about to have back-to-back meetings). Family from out of town unexpectedly showed up. Instead of looking like you peed yourself, you scrubbed out the stain and had to manually dry your pants with a blow dryer. Sometimes you arent exactly sure if you left something on, but either way, it is better to be safe than sorry. It can affect your travel time not only if youre driving, but also if you take the bus or any other form of public transportation. Im so sorry, but Im running [minutes] late this morning because of [reason]. 1. Experts say the benefit can help level the playing field for industries where remote work isn't possible. ), A zebra was running down the highway and held up traffic. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 'A family member was sick'. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Suck up to your boss by adding in, As a fellow parent, I really hope you understand. Argh, kids these days! Even if you have zero regrets about getting an extra hour of sleep, still say youre sorryafter all, your lateness affects your boss and co-workers, too. It may not resonate well with them now, but when you arrive on time every other day after that, theyll more often than not let a mishap or two slide. Unfortunately for you, that gas station was further than you anticipated. This seems to happen whenever youre anxiously trying to get somewhere quickly and voila, today is your lucky day. SEARCH OPEN JOBS ON THE MUSE! For example, if you have a medical issue, its better to be upfront about it than to hide it and possibly make things worse. The world is busy, and traffic jams aren't unnatural. Chances are if youre using this as an excuse for being late to work, its probably true. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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