SIX in 10 people who call in sick for work via phone put on a ‘fake voice’ – to make it more believable.
A poll of 2,000 employed adults found the top reasons why they need to pull a sickie in December.
The list includes Christmas parties (29 per cent), staying out too late celebrating with friends and family (27 per cent) and general festive burnout after too much socialising (25 per cent).
While 41 per cent still like to ring up to convince their boss of their ‘illness’ – 17 per cent like to do it via email and 14 per cent use a text message to break the news.
And some (six per cent) even ask someone else to do it for them – as 46 per cent are set to fake an illness this festive period.
It comes as a sick note service has been rolled out for Darts Fans at Alexandra Palace after a big night at the World Darts Championship.
Employing the expertise of legendary darts caller Russ Bray and comedic celebrity lookalike Tim Oliver, fans have been able to record in-person sick notes with the stars to be sent directly to their boss so they don’t have to make that call themselves.
Lorenzo Farronato, spokesperson for Fireball Whisky, which commissioned the research, the service and which has also developed sick notes for those unable to attend.
Fireball UK said: “People can go to such great lengths to fake a sick day – especially by using a fake voice.
“Perhaps some are likely to email or text instead to get around this issue and save themselves the false ill voice.
“Another way to get around this is our sick note service to try to convince your boss you need the time off after a day at the darts.”
The poll also found workers in Scotland are likely to pull the most sickies – averaging four during the December build-up to Christmas.
Scots are also least likely to feel guilty for taking time off when they aren’t sick (21 per cent), compared to 45 per cent of those in London who do.
Yorkshire residents are only likely to take days off sick if they really need it and a further 37 per cent in the West Midlands will happily call in faking an illness, just so they can get an extra day off.
The study, by OnePoll, found of all adults, 38 per cent spend their fake sick days sleeping, while 27 per cent utilise the time with friends and family.
Upon their return to work, 32 per cent said they feel refreshed and ready to get back to it and 62 per cent would support their workplace offering additional ‘flexible leave’ during the holiday season.
Farronato added: “Attitudes towards sick days vary as some regions are clearly more relaxed about taking time off.
“While some may view it as bending the rules, others see it simply to catch-up on rest during the busiest time of year.”
Meanwhile, a squad of work and health coaches will wage war on sicknote culture by helping the ill and disabled stay in work.
They will prepare personalised plans for tens of thousands of people across England so they can carry on with their jobs.
By MEL STRIDE, Work and Pensions Secretary
FAR too many people are signed off work in a spiral of sickness that ends up hurting their finances, their prospects and ultimately their health.
When we know that with the right support and adjustments, people can stay in or return to work sooner, that is an injustice I am determined to put right.
Not least because the benefits bill for working age disabled people and people with health conditions ballooned by almost two thirds to £69 billion since the pandemic.
Ten million people a year are classed as ‘not fit for work’, while 850,000 people have become economically inactive since the pandemic.
Let’s be clear, there is a near record level of people on company payrolls, up by over 200,000 since last year, real wages have risen for nine months in a row, and economic inactivity is still lower than in the US, France and Italy.
But the level of worklessness we are still seeing is unacceptable, unsustainable, and, I believe, completely avoidable.
The mental health and financial benefits of good work are proven which is why this Government is delivering the biggest welfare shake-up in a generation to turn the tide on these numbers.
We have a plan to put it right. Our reforms will make sure anyone who can work, can stay in long-term employment with the right support.
It’s fairer on the individual, so they aren’t held back on benefits, and fairer for British taxpayers.
But we know for this to work, people need to be properly supported.
The health of our nation has changed since the pandemic and so we need to give people the help they need to carry on working instead of signing off their potential.
Today, we’ve announced 15 parts of the country covering one third of Integrated Care Boards in England that will pilot a new joined-up work and health service, so we can support people to stay in work and strengthen our economy.
From Manchester to Cornwall and London to Leicester, WorkWell will link people at risk of unemployment with community services like physiotherapy, counselling, and money advice to ensure the barriers they face don’t hold them back.
And this isn’t the only help we’re rolling out – its part of a wider, bolder plan to deliver the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain, and improve economic security and opportunity for everyone.
We’ve made NHS Talking Therapies available for an extra 384,000 people’s much needed health conditions, we’re rolling out Universal Support to match 100,000 people with jobs that work for them, and we’ve extended the Restart scheme to give people the skills and training they need to land work.
In fact, we’ve got a whole Back to Work Plan to help over a million people find and secure a job.
This Government is on a moral mission to see everyone who can work, contributing to our economy.
Because keeping Brits in work will benefit us all – so, let’s stick to the plan and keep building a stronger economy where hard work is rewarded, ambition and aspiration are celebrated, and young people get the skills they need to succeed in life.
