Posted on 02/06/2006 11:06:48 AM PST by sully777
LONDON (Reuters) - More British workers will call in "sick" Monday than on any other day in 2006, many opting to make their excuses by text message or by phoning in with an artistic cough or splutter, research revealed Monday.
Widespread dissatisfaction with holiday allowances combined with a post-Christmas comedown will contribute to thousands of Britons, who work some of the longest hours in Europe, staying at home to recharge their batteries.
"Early February is a very popular time for taking a 'sickie', the first bank holiday still seems a long way off, the days are gloomy and many people are still feeling the post-Christmas blues," said Cary Cooper, a professor of organizational psychology and health at Lancaster University, who headed the study.
Over 4,000 workers took part in a poll by digital channel Sky Travel which showed 78 percent of respondents were reluctant to use their holiday allowances so early in the year, preferring to wait until spring before taking official leave.
The average official holiday entitlement was 22 days a year.
The findings threw up a couple of gender-related anomalies. While men and women will take an average of nine "sickies" a year, female workers believe they could get away with taking twice as many days off than their male colleagues.
The survey also found that while a cowardly 17 percent of workers would get someone else to call in sick on their behalf, 28 percent opted for the tried and tested cough and splutter phone call.
As for regional variations workers in the northern city of Liverpool admitted to taking on average an extra 13 days a year off compared with a mere three days for Londoners.
The study offered some consolation to long-suffering bosses with five percent of those polled saying they had been caught out -- including being spotted having lunch with friends.
One respondent even admitted being forced to hobble around the office on crutches for two weeks after claiming to have been knocked down by a car.
Do you realize that weekday workers call in sick on Monday or Friday 40 percent of the time? These people are abusing the system, trying to extend their weekends!
I suspect it's a case of way to many pints of bitters, over their weekends.
What's YOUR excuse? ;^)
That's what happens when the government runs everything. Let the market determine how many vacation days you get. If you don't like what your employer offers, then switch jobs.
DOH!!!
Well, I called in sick today. First time in a long, long time. Sprained my knee over the weekend and cannot get down the stairs to get out of the house. It happens to the honest, sometimes even on Monday! But I'm not British!
I suspect it's a case of way to many pints of bitters, over their weekends.
What's YOUR excuse? ;^)
I have the highest number of absences in the month of February. W-2's are handed out by the 31st of January, and with the advent of rapid refund, I suspect folks think they are temporarily relieved from "earning" a paycheck.
Why? I've got high speed at work. :)
Seriously, I hope you both feel better soon. (Now stay away from the beer, darnit!) LOL.
I don't drink beer--because I don't like it! No Super bowl hangover for me! But I'd glad I don't have the flu like Sully. That's really the pits. I'm only at the computer because I was getting sore just laying in bed with my leg up. If I'm more comfortable sitting up than laying down, then I'll have to figure a way to negotiate the stairs and get to work tomorrow.
My wife told me that, with the right paperwork, we could go there and get jobs easy. Brit employers like Americans 'cause of the work ethic...
Though, when I visited Duxford, I didn't see anything wrong with the Brit work ethic. Maybe it was 'cause the guy restorin' the Beaufighter loved his job?
I wish I had a beer. Actually a screwdriver would hit the spot. Damn flu, I know who gave it to me too.
It's a combo of head/chest and nausea. And my wife left me (sobbing like a little boy) to go to the store. When will she be home to care for me? It's all about me.
Hey - 20% of sick days in my company are taken on Monday and Friday! ;-P
My work day is, on average, about 65% actual work, 35% internet surfing.
The "Newcastle" Virus
It's slackers like you that piss me off. The ratio should be 50/50.
which means they work, what, 35 hours a week?
Fackinell. I work 50-60 hours a week, and btw, I work for the federal gov't. Maybe I could get a decent job in England.
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