“Can’t come in today I’m afraid, I’ve injured my leg chasing the dog to stop it attacking a rabbit.” This is one of more unusual excuses UK workers have used to call in a sickie, according to a list compiled by jobsite CareerBuilder.

Other gems include:

·     employee’s foot was stuck in the toilet

·     employee said someone threw a garden gnome through his window

·     employee claimed to be attacked by a shark

·     employee witnessed someone being pushed under a train

·     employee had a nightmare and felt out of sorts

·     employee was intoxicated by burning vines

·     employee got her finger stuck in a car door

·     employee had to take his mother shopping