Chicago, IL (WFN) -- More than a third of U.S. workers played hooky from their jobs over the last year and tried to cover it with bad excuses.

According to career analysts at careerbuilder.com, 35 percent of workers admit they've called in sick when they felt just fine at least once in the past year. Ten percent faked their way out of work three or more times last year.

Some of those employees came up with real whoppers to get out of work scott-free.

Among the top 15 unusual responses given are gems like: "I was sprayed by a skunk"; "I tripped over my dog and was knocked unconscious"; and "My bus broke down and was held up by robbers."

Other employees claimed they were "spit on by a venomous snake," "had to be there for my husband's grand jury trial" or "had to ship my grandmother's bones to India."

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