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Keith McCord ReportingHere's a story for all you employees. You will love it; your employers will hate it.
A small Oklahoma company has developed computer software that produces authentic-looking excuse notes. Just print one and hand it in.
Be honest, you've called in sick to work or school, and really weren't sick at all, right? Many employers require some sort of "doctor's note" as proof that their workers are really sick and to discourage false sick calls.
Enter The Excused Absence Network, an Oklahoma company that has created blank excuse forms that you can download. They offer forms with authentic-looking medical letterheads; funeral programs, in case your excuse is attending services for a deceased relative; Jury duty forms, and E.R. notes.
Needless to say, the company's Web site is getting a lot of media attention right now and thousands of hits.
As far as showing up for work, though, Utahns are pretty reliable.
Monica Whalen, President and CEO of The Employers Council, said, "For the calendar year of 2006, Utah's absenteeism rate was 4.8 percent, compared to the national average of 5.1 percent."
Whalen conducts annual surveys of Utah companies on salary and benefit packages. She says many businesses have changed their sick-leave policies, allowing employees to use the time any way they choose -- sick or not!
"And that gives more flexibility to the employee and less of a need to play games about why you're gone," she says.
If your conscience will let you resort to using a fake form to convince the boss, remember the boss may call that fake doctor. Then you're really in trouble!
So whether you claim you're sick to your stomach, or have a headache, keep in mind, your boss may now be on to you!
Employers will be happy to know that most workers use their sick time honestly. Ninety percent of workers say they use it because of health or medical situations, either for themselves or members of their family.
