Funny Business

Published: Wednesday, 11 Nov 2009 | 4:37 PM ET

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These days in the job world, beggars can't be choosers.

What a wake up call the unemployment rate must be for a generation of young adults raised on the premise that everyone's a winner.

For those of you in HR charged with hiring from a workforce of Americans whose parents never told them they were stupid for some boneheaded move—they just made "poor choices"—you can appreciate new survey results from CareerBuilder.

The job Web site asked nearly 3,000 hiring managers for the most unusual requests they've received from employees. 　

I've divided them into three groups.

In the strangely practical department there were requests to: 　

-Allow people to change clothes in their cubicles.
-A special smoking section for medical marijuana.
-Replace a desk with a futon so employees can lay down while working. 　

In the "Let's make the office fun" department, there were requests to:

-Put beer in the vending machine.
-Add a tanning bed to the break room.
-Institute Bikini Fridays (note from Jane: this should require guidelines on who should wear bikinis and who should not).
-Install a swimming pool for employees.
-Have a team meeting in Hawaii.

But my favorite requests come from employees I'd describe as, "I'm obviously crazy, but good luck firing me":

- A request to only work during daylight hours from an employee who was scared of the dark.
- A request that jail time be covered under family medical leave.
- A request that the HR person wear nicer shoes.
- Finally, a request for time off to pursue side business as a clown.

Ok, so I wished I'd thought of the beer in the vending machine.

• For More Reasonable Executive Strategies, Check Out Executive Careers

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