The Best Reasons to Chuck a Sickie

[OZCUBAN]

THERES nothing like a Monday morning sickie. But whatever you do, dont tell the boss you have a head cold.

A survey of 2500 employers and employees by UK healthcare company Benenden has revealed the most acceptable reasons for calling in sick.

The consensus is those with a simple case of the sniffles dont get much sympathy. Vomiting was named the most acceptable reason with 72.9 per cent support, closely followed by diarrhoea (71.0 per cent).

Less than two thirds (58.1 per cent) of people believed the flu was a good reason, and just over half supported people with a sick bug (53.2 per cent).

Migraine (36.5 per cent), stress (19.0 per cent), mental health issues (16.9 per cent) and head cold (11.4 per cent) received the least sympathy.

Benenden director Inji Duducu told The Independent the results highlighted problems in the way mental health issues are perceived at work.

There seems to be a clear lack of understanding from some employers in terms of employee wellbeing, she said.

There is a strong commercial case for having a healthy and engaged workforce, yet employers are evidently ignoring the impact of an employees physical and mental wellbeing on productivity, absenteeism and [length of service].

A survey last year by Australian workplace management firm Direct Health Solutions found Australian employees are taking an average 9.5 sick days a year and costing businesses $33 billion in payroll and lost productivity.

Following three years of declining absenteeism levels, that figure jumped from 8.9 days in 2013 to 9.5 days in 2014, with the annual cost of absenteeism rising to $3,230 per employee, or $340 per day.

Absence levels were highest in travel, tourism and hospitality (11.9 days), followed by transport and logistics workers (11.6 days), and telecommunications and utilities (10 days).

Chucking a sickie was the third most common reason for absenteeism behind unexpected illness and carers leave.

Direct Health Solutions managing director Paul Dundon blamed the sickie culture on an entitlement mentality in Australia. Entitlement mentality is a complex issue, Mr Dundon said.

However part of the reason we have an entitlement culture in Australia is the fear management have in managing sick leave it is seen more as an entitlement to take, rather than a safety net provision when one has an unexpected family emergency or personal illness.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO CALL IN SICK?

Vomiting (72.9 per cent)

Diarrhoea (71.0 per cent)

Flu (58.1 per cent)

Sick bug (53.2 per cent)

A migraine (36.5 per cent)

Stress (19.0 per cent)

Mental health issues (16.9 per cent)

A head cold (11.4 per cent)

Source: Benenden

[polarbear]

What about "Fallout 4 came out last night"?

[Habana Mike]

Hmm, I've got a sick bug (probably flu) causing vomiting, diarrhea, migraine and stress. Plus I think it's giving me a head cold contributing to mental health issues.

That's about 300% right?

[MIKA27]

What about "Fallout 4 came out last night"?

It's funny you say that because a good friend of mine has taken an entire week off sick leave just for THAT game!

Ridiculous if you ask me...

[polarbear]

It's funny you say that because a good friend of mine has taken an entire week off sick leave just for THAT game!

Ridiculous if you ask me...

We're a man down this week for the same reason

My best mate has been MIA since Monday and his missus reckons he hasn't come out of his man cave except to sleep since he got his copy

People are dumb

[dicko]

Who are these 30 off % of people who think vomiting/diarrhoea is not a good enough excuse for a sick day?! what wankers! plus, who wants vomit all over the office...

Re the new Fallout game I nearly got into a blue with a bloke yesterday who just about bowled me over as i was walking through the shopping centre for a coffee. He had just come out of EB games with a bag of loot. Needless to say he scurried off to play his game, no time for arguing there. moron

[westg]

I reckon I have heard them all... the best one was I am not feeling 100 % I myself was running at 95 just managed to get through the day

[Fuzz]

Chucked a sickie today. I told my boss I had the flu, but I didn't believe myself until I threw up.

[Waah954]

I think the flu should be the most accepted reason as the last thing you want is to spread the virus with all the venting A/C units in offices.

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

[Dave O)))]

Many people self diagnose flu when it is only a cold. Got a fever?

[Fuzz]

Many people self diagnose flu when it is only a cold. Got a fever?

Yep. Spent all day in bed with fever, muscle aches and chills. Fever has just started to come down.

[Dave O)))]

Yep. Spent all day in bed with fever, muscle aches and chills. Fever has just started to come down.

Good news then, hopefully you continue to improve

[Drguano]

What about a case of the vapors?

[Orion21]

I had an employee who, more than once, called in sick because her dog was ill. Sufficed to say after the 3rd or 4th time I had my office manager inform her that her dog being sick was not reason to miss work. She was gone soon afterwards. Natural selection!

[PointFivePast]

"My team is in the playoffs and I have tickets to today's game." should be a valid reason. I'm wrestling with what to do for this one a week and a half from now

[cpmurrin]

I own and manage a small business and nothing pisses me off more than when people come to work when they are sick. I have to order them out as I can't stand getting sick and don't want to be around the germs. I got a couple of hours in on Fallout 4 last night and would be playing it right now if I thought I could get away with it...