This article was co-authored by Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ. and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Brandy DeOrnellas is a Professional Certified Coach specializing in life and career aspirations and transitions. She also serves company founders and small business owners. She is a former attorney with more than three years of experience as a coach. Brandy holds a JD from Harvard Law School. She also holds a BA in Social Welfare and a BA in Political Science from The University of California, Berkeley. In addition to her formal education, she has multiple coaching certifications, including a Professional Coaching Certification from The University of California, Davis, and a Relationship Coach Certification from Prepare/Enrich. She is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation.
There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Running late for work? We’ve all been late before, but sometimes, the real reason you’re late isn’t actually that good of an excuse. That’s where we’ve got you covered: we’ve got 20+ best excuses for being late to work that your boss will totally buy. Read through our list to pick out your favorite excuse today.
Things You Should Know
- Use an excuse like traffic or car troubles to explain why you’re late.
- Tell your boss you lost your car keys or had to spend time looking for your wallet or purse.
- Say that your pipes burst or you had another home-related emergency.
- Tell your boss that your pet was sick or got out, but that they’re fine now.
Steps
Email Template and Text Examples for Being Late to Work
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
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Get in touch with your boss as soon as you know you’re going to be late. The quicker you tell them, the more they’ll appreciate your excuse.Thanks
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Try not to use excuses too often. After a couple of late mornings, your boss will probably stop being so forgiving. Do your best to stop running late and get to work on time.Thanks
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Don’t get too specific with your excuses. The more you explain your tardiness, the more it looks like you’re making things up on the spot.
- Never make this a habit, your boss will be upset at you.
Thanks
Warnings
- Lateness at work has consequences. At a minimum, your monthly salary can be docked for tardiness or unexcused absences. And if it happens repeatedly, you could be fired.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about work tips, check out our in-depth interview with Brandy DeOrnellas, PCC, ESQ..
References
- ↑ https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/staff-handbook/absence-work
- ↑ https://appliedpsychologydegree.usc.edu/blog/reasons-why-some-people-are-always-late-to-work
- ↑ https://ptt.edu/common-car-troubles-automotive-technicians-can-fix-under-an-hour/
- ↑ https://www.shrm.org/topics-tools/news/traffic-jams-no-1-reason-people-late-work
- ↑ https://ptt.edu/common-car-troubles-automotive-technicians-can-fix-under-an-hour/
- ↑ https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/travelling-work-bad-weather
- ↑ https://www.stonybrook.edu/employee-labor-relations/counseling/lateness
- ↑ https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/too-late-to-apologize-unless-you-have-an-excuse-too.html
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/hide-and-seek/201406/the-psychology-of-lateness
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/general/sick/
- ↑ https://www.aarp.org/work/careers/reasons-for-being-late-fd/
- ↑ https://www.aarp.org/work/careers/reasons-for-being-late-fd/
- ↑ https://www.heart.org/en/news/2023/12/19/the-dos-and-donts-to-help-you-get-better-and-protect-others-when-you-have-a-virus
- ↑ https://intermountainhealthcare.org/-/media/files-sc9/eap/employee---robbery.ashx
- ↑ https://intermountainhealthcare.org/-/media/files-sc9/eap/employee---robbery.ashx
- ↑ https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/workplacebasics/taking-leave/1/
- ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/families/grief