MANY workers mull over phoning in sick every now and then – but they most often do it on National Sickie Day.
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For those keen on a no-show, here's the one day they're most likely to pull a sickie?
National Sickie Day is the day when the most people call in sick and take the day off workCredit: Getty Images – Getty
When is National Sickie Day?
Traditionally the first Monday in February is the day when the greatest amount of UK employees take the day off work due to illness.
In 2020 this is today, Monday, February 3.
A combination of factors prompting the no-show include the day falling after Super Bowl Sunday, the first weekend after Dry January and the first post-Christmas pay day.
Mondays are the most popular day of the week for calling in sick.
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Lots of sport fans might take the day off if they stay up to watch Super Bowl SundayCredit: Getty Images
What are the worst excuses for calling in sick?
According to employment law firm ELAS the worst excuses for missing work have included:
“My only pair of work trousers is in the wash”“It’s my dog’s birthday and I need to arrange a party for him”“The dog ate my shoes”“I got arrested”“I lost my PPE”“I stayed out partying last night and haven’t had any sleep”“My friend is on annual leave so I can’t get a lift”“I have no way to get to work”“My wife earns more than me so I have to look after the kids”
Emma O'Leary, employment law consultant for the ELAS Group, said: “These excuses might sound weird and wonderful but they are all genuine reasons we have heard from our clients over the last year.
“As an employer you are perfectly entitled to challenge the authenticity of an absence; if an excuse seems too far-fetched then ask for evidence if appropriate.”
Many workers pull sickies due to the weather, tiredness or “they just don't feel like it”.
After polling 100,000 workers across 3,000 firms, researchers at staff management software provider RotaCloud whittled down the answers to these top four excuses:
An employee said they had the Ebola virus, a deadly fever which killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa between 2013 and 2016Another said they were allergic to wearing yellow polo shirts which was the company's uniformA third person said they claimed suffering from flu from getting colds after leaving their fridge door openMeanwhile, a fourth said they had left the window open and fog entered their house, making it impossible to see their alarm clock
Some people have been enjoying their first tipple since enduring a dry JanuaryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
How many people call in sick on National Sickie Day?
According to Employment Law Experts (ELAS), it was estimated that the number of employees calling in sick on the 2019 National Sickie Day was 215,000.
They predicted this will cost the UK economy around £45million, thanks to lost hours, wages and overtime.
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IT company Insight found in a survey that about 8.6million people claimed sick days in 2019 because their jobs were “too painful”.
1. Flu2. Back pain3. Injury caused by accident4. Stress5. Elective surgery6. Depression7. Anxiety8. Common cold9. Migraine10. None of the above
