Majority of workers pull 'sickies'

A majority of Irish workers admitted pulling “sickies” to get a day off work last year, a survey said today.

A majority of Irish workers admitted pulling “sickies” to get a day off work last year, a survey said today.

Almost six in 10 (57 per cent) employees said they lied to their bosses about being ill during 2009.

The figure jumped dramatically from the year before when fewer than four in 10 (37 per cent) owned up to falsely phoning in sick, according to researchers at employment law firm Peninsula Ireland.

The survey questioned 636 workers in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

It also found that 63 per cent of Irish workers will consider pretending they are sick for a day off work this year.

Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland, warned falsified absenteeism is costing Irish businesses.

“Calling in sick may seem like a good idea on a wet, cold Monday morning but in reality it can have an adverse affect on your employer,” he said.

PA

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