Its UK Duvet Day

‘National Sickie Day’ will cost UK businesses more than £34 million, ELAS the employment law expert predicts. The combination of wintry weather, commuting to and from work in the dark, Christmas credit card bills and a long wait until the next holiday makes Monday, 6 February the day Britons are most likely to call in sick.

However, the number of days workers award themselves for a bout of fake illness is falling as the economy falters, with most staff now only daring to spend one day away from the office.

ELAS says, ’We have been keeping a close eye on absenteeism for years, and there has always been a sizeable number of skivers who, having phoned in sick once, award themselves a second day to make their illness look more believable. 'But in the past 12 months, a combination of the stuttering economy and managers finally grasping the nettle over absenteeism has seen that particular trend end.'

While the number of people suspected of throwing ‘sickies’ continues to grow steadily, the length of time they’re off work is falling fast. Based on its monitoring of absenteeism nationwide, the company estimates that as many as 400,000 UK workers will ‘throw a sickie' on Monday.

APA