A new survey has found that 43 per cent of UK employees admit to having called in sick to work when they were not actually sick. The Kronos Absence Survey, commissioned by The Workforce Institute at Kronos Incorporated and conducted by Harris Interactive, also found that the number of people pulling sickies increases amongst younger workers, with 65 per cent of the 16-24 age goup admitting to taking bogus sick days, compared with just 25 per cent of the 55-64 age group admitting the same and 40 per cent of the 25-30 age group.

When asked why they had called in sick when they were not actually sick, many employees said that they felt stressed and needed a day off. In the UK, 25 per cent of respondents have taken a sick day when feeling stressed. Again, the figures were highest for the 16-24 age group at 34 per cent and lowest for the 55-64 age group at 14 per cent. Other reasons for taking a day off sick included having to look after a sick child, having too heavy a workload and running out of paid leave.

The top two ways to spend a fake sick day were staying at home and watching TV or staying in bed: on average 50 per cent of respondents took time off work to stay at home and watch TV, with 69 per cent of 16-24-year-olds choosing to spend a sick day in this way. 44 per cent have stayed in bed on a bogus sick day; 29 per cent had to take care of a sick child; 16 per cent of respondents met with friends and relatives; 16 per cent have used the time for a shopping trip and 9 per cent went to a sporting event.

When asked what their employers could do to prevent them from calling in sick when they were not really sick, the top response was to offer employees the opportunity to work flexible hours: 50 per cent of respondents would like flexible hours; 39 per cent would like the opportunity to take unpaid leave; 33 per cent would like the option to work from home occasionally; 32 per cent think that more paid leave is the answer and 27 per cent would like the chance to take ‘duvet days’ – days that can be taken as leave at short notice.

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