LORAIN, Ohio -- Chances are, you've done it too.
A national survey found 2/3 of U.S employees who call in sick at the last minute weren't actually sick.
Now city workers in Lorain can expect a knock at the door from someone from the city, looking to verify that they are indeed sick.
Mayor Chase Ritenauer says the city is trying to crack down on what he calls sick time abuse.
"This serves as a notice to employees that this isn't going to be tolerated," he said.
With the city planning to ask voters in November to approve an income tax increase, Mayor Ritenauer says now more than ever, city leaders need to prove that they are good stewards of taxpayer money.
"Let's be honest. People have skepticism about public employees, " Ritenauer said.
But in a letter to the city's safety director, the police union fired back.
Union President Kyle Gelenius blasted the city's practice of sending a nurse to check up on sick workers. He warned that anyone checking up on officers faces criminal trespassing charges.
"It's obviously affected morale," said Gelenius.
He also said one dispatcher was reduced to tears when she got a knock at the door by a city nurse.
"[They're] knocking on your door, 'Hey, I'm here to take your blood pressure, I'm here to violate your rights and your privacy in your own home'" Gelenius said.
However, the city says it does have that right. Since the practice began, sick time has dropped off dramatically.
The mayor says within the city's 83-member fire department, there were 42 sick calls in June 2011. So far in June 2012, there's only been one sick call.
One firefighter faces a disciplinary hearing on Friday, after he used a sick day to attend his son's high school graduation.
A union rep says the 17-year veteran firefighter could be fired.
City officials hope to meet with police union leaders to discuss the dispute in the next few weeks.
WKYC-TV