Team Watches Coworker Self-Destruct In Real Time, One Sarcastic Comment Ends It All

Many employees have faked a sickness to get out of a workday at least once. And if you must do so, it’s crucial to keep one cardinal rule in mind: don’t get caught. 

Unfortunately, the social media age has made it easier for people to get busted, as this woman named Tina learned. What made things worse was that the exposure of her lie was due to her own doing. Some may call it a foolish blunder, while others may have harsher words for it. 

Tina now has to answer to HR, as she also lost the trust of her coworkers. 

Employees who get caught faking an illness are likely to do so because of their own doing

Woman in bed rubbing eyes, appearing tired or unwell, suggesting a scenario related to calling in sick.

Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

A woman named Tina called in sick, only to be busted by her coworkers

Woman sharing story about calling in sick and revealing details during a bottomless mimosa brunch outing.

Text excerpt about a team member’s Instagram post revealing attendance at a bottomless mimosa brunch.

Person cutting into poached eggs at a bottomless mimosa brunch with plates of food and coffee on the table.

Image credits: Davey Gravy / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

She had apparently posted about her holiday on social media, seemingly forgetting that her colleagues would see it

Woman enjoying bottomless mimosa brunch with friends, laughing and sharing stories in a lively social setting.

Woman enjoying a bottomless mimosa brunch sharing a surprising story after calling in sick from work.

Professional woman attending a meeting while two colleagues listen attentively during a discussion in a modern office.

Image credits: pch.vector / Freepik (not the actual photo)

Tina’s mishap landed her in hot water, as she limited her social media exposure

Text excerpt about an employee’s behavior after calling in sick, related to bottomless mimosa brunch story.

Image credits: justlunatits

Faking illnesses is more common than perceived, and it is prevalent among upper management

In 2022, Moneypenny conducted a survey of 1,000 Americans across different industries and states. The goal was to determine the number of people who called in sick for a fake illness and their reasons for doing so. 

The findings revealed that 50% of Americans admitted to faking sick. But what’s interesting was that among those in the company roster, owners and CEOs were most likely to take an extra “sick day,” with 64% of them admitting to it while in their current role. 

As for why, 29% of respondents stated that they needed to attend family events, such as weddings or christenings, while only 12% faked an illness to go on holiday. 

Woman wrapped in blanket at home, looking unwell while holding her forehead during a Bottomless Mimosa Brunch story.

Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

Here’s the kicker, though: while companies have the prerogative to terminate an employee for faking an illness, it’s not that simple. As employee relations expert Nicholas Hackenberg explains, a doctor’s confirmation is more than enough to prove an employee’s case, regardless of whether they were faking an illness or not. 

“It can be at times difficult for business owners to manage, as the individual circumstances are not always necessarily in black and white,” Hackenberg told Employsure. 

So, how do companies avoid these situations altogether? According to CareerBuilder, employers must support employees’ needs to maintain a healthy work-life balance, even if it means granting “mental health days.” 

“Companies that promote a healthy work-life balance may see increased productivity, employee engagement, and satisfaction.”

As for Tina, she may have needed the vacation that badly. However, she could’ve saved herself the embarrassment by not foolishly posting her (mis)adventures on social media. 

Commenters shared their insights, coming from both sides of the fence

Text post discussing feelings of guilt after calling in sick when not actually ill, relating to bottomless mimosa brunch.

Commenter discussing the consequences of using sick days dishonestly and posting about it online.

Comment discussing a woman calling in sick and sharing her experience during a bottomless mimosa brunch.

Screenshot of a social media comment about pretending to be sick for a day off during a bottomless mimosa brunch.

Comment discussing sick days and calling out work, related to bottomless mimosa brunch experiences after calling in sick.

Text excerpt discussing HR caution about questioning sick employees and advising use of sick days, related to bottomless mimosa brunch.

Reddit user sharing frustrations about workplace issues and personal day use, relating to bottomless mimosa brunch.

Text post discussing a woman calling in sick and celebrating at a bar during a bottomless mimosa brunch.

Screenshot of a social media comment discussing personal advice with a casual tone and strong language.

Commenter sharing opinions about coworkers’ behavior and consequences, relating to bottomless mimosa brunch discussions.

alt text: Reddit user sharing experiences about calling in sick and fake sick days at work with coworkers.

Woman shares story about bottomless mimosa brunch and calling in sick, with champagne photo spreading at work.

Woman enjoying a bottomless mimosa brunch while sharing a candid story after calling in sick from work.

Woman enjoying bottomless mimosa brunch, laughing and sharing a story after calling in sick from work.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment defending privacy about calling in sick, related to Bottomless Mimosa Brunch discussion.

Screenshot of a comment discussing personal time policies and attitudes toward taking time off from work, related to bottomless mimosa brunch.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing privacy boundaries related to social media during a bottomless mimosa brunch.

Woman enjoying a bottomless mimosa brunch while sharing a candid story after calling in sick.

Woman sharing her story about calling in sick during a bottomless mimosa brunch with coworkers online.

Woman enjoying a bottomless mimosa brunch, laughing and sharing a story after calling in sick.

Reddit comment on corporate rules about coworkers, with the phrase bottomless mimosa brunch as the main SEO keyword.

Text post on a social media platform joking about a girl liking mimosas during a bottomless mimosa brunch.

Comment about someone taking care of mental health while calling in sick, related to bottomless mimosa brunch topic.

Text comment in a discussion forum about honesty, related to bottomless mimosa brunch confession after calling in sick.

Reddit comment describing a coworker’s suspicious behavior when calling in sick to enjoy a bottomless mimosa brunch experience.

Woman enjoying a bottomless mimosa brunch, laughing and sharing stories after calling in sick.

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