What cannot be denied is that the cost of ''sickies'' is significant, and if employers are to escape the bitter pill of paying out for absent staff, they can start by creating happier, healthier working environments and even some duvet day comfort. June and December are the most popular months for sickies.
Married couples are the biggest culprits and men are more guilty than women.
The cost to a business of employees taking time off is often overlooked. Hefty overtime rates are often incurred when companies pay other members of staff to cover for absent colleagues. They may also require to employ temporary workers or hire outside contractors and, in the worst scenarios, work may not be completed on schedule. This can result in customer dissatisfaction and a loss of business. Regular absenteeism can be attributed to a number of reasons, including ''post-bank holiday depression syndrome'' where employees feel forced to return to work before they are ready.