One in ten admit to taking a ?sickie?
One in ten admit to taking a ?sickie?
- One in ten (11%) were in full health when they took sick leave
- Two working months into 2012, 18% of the population have already taken at least one sick day
- Brits who have taken sick leave, have had an average of four days off since the beginning of the year
- 12% were not sick enough to justify taking time off work
We?ve all had those mornings when we hit ?snooze? a few too many times and dream of staying in bed for the day, instead of facing the nine to five. Findings from Opinium Research reveal that is actually more of a reality for many, with almost a quarter (23%) admitting to being dishonest to their boss in order to have some unwarranted time off.
New findings show that 11% have taken a sick day when they were fighting fit! While just over one in ten (12%) have called in sick even though they probably were well enough to come in.
Two working months into 2012, Opinium Research found that of those who have taken sick leave already this year, the average is four days off ? almost a whole working week!
According to the ?sick Brits? surveyed the number one reason for pulling a sickie (i.e. calling in sick when not genuinely ill) is because they ?just didn?t want to go into work? (39%). The other top motives were:
- Being too tired to get up (19%)
- Being too hungover to work (12%)
- Having plans and not wanting to use up holiday allowance (12%)
Kate Norfolk, head of healthcare research at Opinium, commented: ?In tough economic times it?s a shame to see that Brits are so blasÈ about whether they show their face at work or not. Of course there are times when people are genuinely ill, but if you?re trying to pull the wool over your boss?s eyes then be careful – there are only so many times people can pull a sickie before they get caught and when they do, employers may not be lenient enough to let them have another chance.?
Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2,278 people aged 18+ of which 1,337 were in full or part time work from 17th to 20th February 2012 and an online survey of 2,010 people aged 18+ from 21st to 23rd February, of which 364 had taken sick leave since 1st of January 2012. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.
This survey is conducted online by CAWI (computer aided web interviewing), using Opinium?s online research panel of circa 30,000 individuals. This research is run from a representative sample of UK adults (aged 18+ in England, Scotland and Wales). The sample is scientifically defined from pre-collected registration data containing gender, age (18-34, 35-54, and 55+), region (North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), working status and social grade to match the latest published ONS figures.
Opinium also takes into account differential response rates from the different demographic groups, to ensure the sample is representative.
