Tis the season for a curious correlation: Christmas music in the mall and employees calling in sick. After all, who doesn’t want more time off around the holidays? And people will fake sickness to get it—like the 9 percent who are decorating, the 76 percent who are spending time with loved ones, or the 12 percent who actually are listening to the Christmas music in the mall while holiday shopping.

When their vacation time dwindles, employees resort to creative reasons to tap into their sick time. This year alone, one employee called in sick from eating cat food instead of tuna. Another employee attended the funeral of a distant relative’s pet. And in a moment of honesty rivaling Office Space, another employee said he had better things to do than come to work. In what may be an even stranger phenomenon, 47 percent of employees said they went to work when they were sick so they could save their sick days for when they were feeling well.

The excuses may be fabled, but holiday hooky is very real. CareerBuilder’s annual survey on absenteeism puts December as far and away the top month for employees to call in sick, so look out! Only a small group admitted to faking during the holidays, but a full 35 percent of employees skipped work at least once this year by lying about an illness. Aside from extending the holiday cheer, the most popular reasons employees faked illness were because they didn’t feel like going to work, they had a doctor’s appointment, or they needed to relax.

While most employers said they believe an employee who calls out sick, one-third admitted to checking up on an employee’s story, usually by requiring a doctor’s note. Other employers called the employee at home or even drove by the employee’s house. Still others investigated with social media (and often caught the fake in action!). At the end of the day, 22 percent of employers fired an employee over faked sick time. That may not be the best way to spread holiday cheer, but at least it’s honest!

If your business is battling increased absenteeism, you’re not alone. The YES! Your Human Resources Solution team can help get your employees—and your business’ productivity—back on their feet. We’ll team with management and your existing HR staff to determine the best ways to keep your employees healthy, motivated, and working toward your business’s bottom line. See how Orange County’s premier HR consultants can help your business thrive and grow this holiday season and throughout the year. Visit our website or contact us today for a free consultation.