The Best (or Worst) Excuses for Time Off
What’s the most outrageous excuse someone has used to request a sick day?
What is "My pet parrot is having an midlife crisis and needs emotional support"?
What’s the most awkward thing to do during a job interview?
What is "Forgetting to unmute yourself after being asked a question"?
What’s the weirdest thing HR has to deal with that has nothing to do with HR?
What is "Trying to figure out why the coffee machine has a ‘mysterious malfunction’"?
What should you do when an employee accidentally replies "Reply All" to a company-wide email, sharing their weekend plans instead of a work update?
Send them a "Reply All" tutorial and make sure they know how to hit "delete" next time.
What’s the most creative fake employee award you could give out?
What is "Best Desk Plant Caretaker"?
What’s the best excuse for taking a “mental health day”?
What is "I need a break to binge-watch an entire season of Yellowstone"?
What’s the funniest response someone gave to “Tell me about yourself”?
What is "‘I’m basically a superhero, but only on weekends’"?
What’s an unexpected part of HR that everyone forgets?
What is "Explaining why that email shouldn’t have been sent to everyone"?
What HR term describes that awkward moment when you accidentally hire someone whose resume was completely fake?
"HR Oops" or "Resume Fiasco"
hat’s the most ridiculous reason you could give for awarding someone “Employee of the Month”?
What is "For having the most coffee cups on their desk at all times"?
What’s the strangest reason an employee has asked for time off?
What is "I accidentally locked myself in the bathroom and can't figure out how to get out"?
What’s the worst question to ask the interviewer during a job interview?
What is "Asking ‘So, when can I start taking PTO"?
What’s the most unusual thing HR has to mediate between employees?
What is "Handling a dispute over who ate the last donut"?
What's the best way to handle the office holiday party when someone shows up wearing the ugly sweater as you?
Embrace the "twinning" moment and turn it into a holiday team building exercise.
What’s the most outrageous award you could give for “team spirit”?
What is "Most Likely to Organize a Zoom Call No One Wants to Join"?
Contrary to popular belief, this company policy acronym does not stand for Please Take Off
What’s the most unbelievable thing someone has said during an interview?
What is "Telling the interviewer you ‘just need a job for the benefits and upcoming surgery’"?
What’s the strangest office party game HR had to organize?
What is "Coordinating an office dance-off at the holiday party"?
When an employee shows up late to work after an office party and says they were "just caught in traffic", what HR policy are you really enforcing?
The "No Traffic" policy - always check your calendar for virtual meetings after office parties!
What’s the funniest title for an award for the employee who can’t stop talking?
What is "Master of Small Talk, Even During Meetings"?
What’s the most creative way to get an extra day off during the holidays?
What is "Pulling the COVID card"?
What’s the worst thing to wear to a job interview?
What is "Wearing pajamas and crocks and calling it ‘business casual’"?
What’s the oddest thing HR had to deal with during a performance review?
What is "Explaining to the employee that ‘Just stop wearing flip-flops and crocks to the office’ is not a formal dress code change"?
What HR action should be taken when an employee brings their pet hamster for "emotional support" during a team meeting?
Initiate the "Bring Your Hamster to Work" day policy (but no more rodents in meetings after this).
What’s the most embarrassing but hilarious award for the person who never answers emails?
What is "Email Ghost Who Never Responds But Always Reads”?