In a recent survey 32 percent of office workers admitted to faking illness to take a day off. Almost half gave the reason as “the need to relax.” The same survey found women are 50 percent more likely to give a bogus excuse for a sick day as a man. Some of the best excuses in 2006 were (according to Careerbuilder.com):

• “I was in jail and couldn’t call in.”

• “I had a fight with my husband and I wanted to talk to him when he gets home.”

• “A buffalo that had escaped from a game reserve kept charging at me every time I tried to get to my car.”

• “My mother-in-law poisoned me.”

• “I’m morning sickness like my wife.”

• “A skunk got in my house and sprayed all my work clothes.”

• “A severe case of the hiccups.”

• “I blew my nose so hard that my back went out.”

• “My dog ate my bus pass.”

• “I broke my leg while snow boarding off the roof while I was drunk.”

• “I’m sad today.”

• “My boyfriend’s snake got loose and I’m afraid to leave the bedroom until he gets home.”

• “The ghosts in my house kept me up all night.”

• “God didn’t wake me up.”