When responding to this question, you want to avoid being dishonest. When the interviewer calls your previous employer, they will ask the same question to see if it aligns with your response. If you called in sick many Mondays and Fridays, you want to avoid being flippant or making a joke about wanting three or four-day weekends. If you are unreliable, the interviewer will not take you seriously and look for someone else to fill the position.

"I called off work one Monday and one Friday last year. My daughter had strep throat and could not attend daycare until she was better. My husband was out of town, so he could not stay with her, and my babysitter did not want to expose herself to my child. I do not make a habit of calling off work unless there is no other option."