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Looking for an excuse? Company has many
By Angela K. Brown
Associated Press
Advertisement

NEW 4:10 p.m. THACKERVILLE, Okla. -- Feeling like playing hooky, but nervous about getting caught? The Excused Absence Network has got your back.

For about $25, students and employees can buy excuse notes that appear to come from doctors or hospitals. Other options include a fake jury summons or an authentic-looking funeral service program complete with comforting poems and a list of pallbearers.

Some question whether the products are legal or ethical - or even work - but the company's owners say they're just helping people do something they would have done anyway.

"Millions of Americans work dead-end jobs, and sometimes they just need a day off," said John Liddell, co-founder of the Internet-based company Vision Matters, which sells the notes as part of its Excused Absence Network. "People are going to lie anyway. How many people go visit their doctors every day when they're not sick because they just need a note?"

The company's customers receive templates so they can print the notes after typing the name and address of a local doctor or emergency room. Those who choose jury duty as an excuse to miss work enter their county courthouse information on the form.

Though the company's disclaimer advises the notes are "for entertainment purposes only," its Web site shows pictures of people sunbathing and playing golf using the fabricated excuses. One testimonial says: "I've managed to take the nine weeks off using these templates! It couldn't be any easier!"

Actually, for one New Jersey woman it wasn't so easy. She was arrested this year after using one of the company's notes to support her claim she was too injured to appear in traffic court for a speeding ticket. She was caught after court officials called the chiropractor listed and he told them he never heard of the woman.

Vision Matters co-founder Darl Waterhouse said people looking to trick their bosses probably won't get caught because of federal restrictions on the release of patient medical information.

But some are concerned about potential problems.

If bosses find out the notes are not authentic, they might think the medical provider helped in the scam, said Dr. John Z. Sadler, a psychiatry and clinical sciences professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Reputations could be unfairly damaged, and accreditation or license problems could arise, he said.

"I can't speak for doctors in general, but for me this practice sounds awful," said Sadler, also the director of UT-Southwestern's Program in Ethics in Science and Medicine. "This business practice seems comparable to the ways `diploma mills' and `term papers online' are wrongful."

Sadler said people who skip work without a legitimate reason are burdening conscientious employees.

"If I was the co-worker, I'd turn the rascal in," Sadler said.

Many businesses require documentation if an employee misses work. But several companies declined to reveal their specific policies or say whether the possibility their workers might use fake excuse notes is a concern.

"At Lockheed Martin, we have a highly ethical culture and it is extremely unlikely any of our employees would use these kinds of services," according to a statement from Lockheed Martin Aeronatics Co. in Fort Worth, Texas.

An annual nationwide survey of more than 300 human resource executives found an absenteeism rate of about 2.3 percent this year. That's down from 2.5 percent in 2006, the highest rate since 2.7 percent in 1999.

The survey was conducted by the Harris Interactive consulting firm for CCH Inc., which provides employment law information.

The executives surveyed said that two-thirds of employees who call in sick at the last minute are really missing work due to family issues, personal needs, stress and an entitlement mentality. Personal illness accounts for only 34 percent of the absences.

The Vision Matters founders said many employees are fed up with working long hours for little pay, then having no flexibility if they needed to tend to a sick relative or attend their children's school activities.

"If employers would treat people the way they need to be treated, people wouldn't be using these notes," Liddell said.

Liddell and Waterhouse met about four years ago while working in security for a manufacturing company. After seeing several employees write fake doctor notes, the men launched the Internet business on about $300 each.

Liddell runs the company from a laptop in his home in Thackerville, a town of about 400 located a few miles north of the Oklahoma-Texas line. He won't reveal sales numbers, but says the Web site gets about 15,000 hits a month.

Waterhouse said customers have used the notes not only to miss work but to get out of gym membership contracts.

"There's no way we could think of every way to use it," he said.

On the Net:

Excused Absence Network: http://www.myexcusedabsence.com

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Reader comments on this story - 8 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Chicken Bone wrote on Oct 25, 2007 12:59 PM:

" There was an article in another paper earlier this year about a business in France who provides alibis for men cheating on their wives. They would provide hotel receipts, conference material, t-shirts, and basically whatever was needed to allow a business man a several day getaway for his romantic actives. Prices varied according to how many resources would be required. It is amazing to consider it took millions of years for humans to evolve from slime to walking upright, and only a few decades to devolve back to slime. "

If wrote on Oct 25, 2007 10:20 AM:

" these excuses are used to get out of financial obligations or you get sick pay from work then what was done is fraud. So IF the company, or employer, do happen to find out not only would you be out of a job but could also be in jail. IF it is so important for me to be off work for the day I will call the company and make arrangements if this does not work I wil go anyhow as there are other jobs around. "

Cards Fan wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:31 AM:

" The cubbies actually need a good excuse for taking the entire century off; 100 years of their absence from the World Series! Wow, they need a better one than the billy goat curse. "

to what... wrote on Oct 25, 2007 8:24 AM:

" that is what i was thinking. I know that most employers won't check up on you unless you have been out for several days and then they want a note from the doctor stating why you were out and if you are ok to return to work. If you call in here and there for just a day I don't know of any employer who checks up on that. When I was honestly sick and would go to the doctor, I would just for the company and my sake, ask the doctor to write a brief note explaining why he felt I should be out. I never had a problem. also, I know that some companies are cracking down on the the number of days you can take off for your childs illness but most big companies have family leave if you need it or you can use your PV. "

What ? wrote on Oct 25, 2007 6:11 AM:

" Is this world full of liars? Does the school/employers ever call to check up on these DEADBEATS? "

Jeff Spicoli wrote on Oct 24, 2007 6:36 PM:

" Hey Saluki ! For a buck and half, I will E mail you any excuse in the book. "

JD wrote on Oct 24, 2007 4:52 PM:

" This kind of service has been going on for quite a while. One place that I know of, even had receptionists that would take calls. Depending on the number that was called, the receptionist would open the file, see the information, and pretend to be that location to the caller. I am not sure if it is still in business, but this company was doing it at least 3 years ago. "

Saluki wrote on Oct 24, 2007 4:39 PM:

" Must have been founded by a Cubs fan who needed excuses for their absence from the World Series every year! "
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