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7 Reasons to Call in Sick

While summer may be most associated with beach bumming and barbecuing, for bosses across the country it’s high season for bogus sick days. An estimated andy roddick39% of full-time workers play hookey during the summer months by calling in sick, according to a 2007 Workforce Institute survey. The most common days used for the summer sick days are, not surprisingly, Fridays and Mondays.

The survey found that among those who did lie about being sick, most cited the need for mental health day as the reason. That helps explain the clinical term now attached to the phenomena—Seasonal Absence Syndrome.

Some employers take the “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” approach to the issue by instituting so-called Summer Fridays, in which workers are allowed to leave early or take the day off completely. Other firms allow employees to work from home or on-the-road. 

Though often used on the fly, it’s often best to maximize your pleasure by planning summer sick days in advance (Why waste a perfectly good summer Monday nursing a hangover?)

Herewith, the best events this summer worth risking your job by faking a sick day.

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Cubicle

Call me "CC," Cubicle Coach. I have been "you" and now I can hire "you." I have many years of experience playing the angles, doing the dance. In my time, I've seen 'em all - the strivers, the poseurs, the weasels, the Eeyores, and the precious few who "just get it." I'll tell it to you straight.

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Eileen

Eileen Conlan is an assistant editor at Marie Claire. She lives in New York City, and loves cooking, reading and reviewing new books, and shopping the city for the perfect deal. She also has an affinity for traveling, and anything vintage, making the Hell's Kitchen flea market her favorite weekend haunt.

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Jihan

I'm an editorial assistant in the features department, I'm addicted to the New York Times crossword puzzles (Monday only!), figuring out how to save a little money in the country's most expensive city and bad reality television.

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Maura

Maura Kutner is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer who was recently laid off from her glamorous magazine job. While she searches for employment, she gets by babysitting, selling her stuff on eBay, and bartending in midtown Manhattan.

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