BUSINESSES expect a spike of sickies next week because the chance to string together 11 days out of the office could prove irresistible for some slackers.

Workers looking to extend their Easter long weekend only need to call in sick between Wednesday and Friday to secure nearly two weeks out of the office in a row.

Staff are absent for an average of 10 days a year, wasting 4.2 per cent of working time.

Australian businesses are struggling to tackle the problem, with the cost increasing to $375 for each day an employee is away and a hefty $3712 annually per staff member.

The most common complaints for short illnesses are gastroenteritis, flu, sore throat, fever and food poisoning.

However, if you have already rung the boss a few times this year with fake health issues, you might have to get inventive to be believable.





Queensland University of Technology School of Management head Lisa Bradley said employees were most likely to fake being sick when they felt they were treated badly at work.    

Direct Health Solutions, a company that specialises in cutting workplace absenteeism, recently released some of the more inventive excuses submitted by workers:   

"The bus bell was so loud it gave me a headache."

"The curry late last night has kept me up all night."

"My wife threw out all my clothes so I have nothing to wear."

"I lifted too many weights and now I can't get out of bed."

diarrhoea.......works every time, even the doctor can't be sure.

Not the verbal type that you get on here.

mavisdavis wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2011 at 8:40am:



Good example of the verbal diarrhoea that I was referring to. I'm sure that anyone that has ever been involved in the workforce has at one time or another chucked the odd 'illegal' sickie, get off your high horse and get a job then you too can chuck a sickie instead of being jealous of those that can and do.

There is no better feeling than to ring in sick on the spur of the moment.......heaven on earth woohoo!!!