London - A worker said he could not turn up at the office because his rabbit was sick, while another said he couldn't find a dog-sitter. They were among some of the more outrageous excuses discovered by recruitment firm Personnel & Care Bank during research on why workers take days off.
Top of the list was: "My toothbrush has worn out and I'm not going to work without cleaning my teeth."
Ms Rosalind Payne, managing director of the recruitment consultancy, based in London, said: "After 15 years of providing staff, I think we've heard most excuses in the book, including someone who said he couldn't go into work because he had lost his leg".