Pulling a sickie: Bosses say more and more of us are taking a day off
Pulling a sickie. Skiving-off work. An (unapproved) duvet day. There are a growing number of names for work absenteeism and Britain's businesses fear it is a growing problem.
Over two-thirds (68 per cent) of Britain's businesses think more and more employees are taking an unearned day off, a practice that is costing UK businesses an average of £120,000 each every year.
The research undertaken by insurance giant Legal & General (L&G) somewhat unsurprisingly revealed 97 per cent of employers would be interested in a solution that reduce the cost burden of absenteeism.
The news comes a month after City A.M. revealed tube driver sick days were at a five year high.
The average number of sick days for London workers is 3.5 days annually. UK-wide, the average is 4.5 sick days a year.
Read more: Travel sickness: Tube staff took over 163,000 sick days last year
"Our concern that is a problem which is becoming more prevalent," said L&G's managing director of workplace health and protection Martin Noone.
He added the large average cost of absenteeism is "one that many employers do not necessarily think about, even less mitigate for".
Read more: Sick day? Here's how your boss is checking up on you
Long-term absenteeism was a key concern of many employers. The report concluded: "The research shows that a vast majority of employers are aware of this threat and the potential for absenteeism to become more of an issue."
Workers looking for an easy life might want to find a business that takes a more relaxed approach. Eight per cent of employers polled struggled to see absenteeism as a problem and didn't think it was a threat to their business.