Over a quarter (26 percent) of employees have called in sick to work when they weren’t ill, 29 percent call in sick due to feeling tired, or stressed because of their job.

The World Cup brought the issue of absenteeism firmly back into the spotlight once again, with Canada Life Group Insurance research revealing that almost one in ten employees would take unnecessary sick leave during the tournament to watch a match. However, this is more than just a passing phase, as more than one in four employees (26 percent) admitted to taking time off work when they’re not ill. Although some have called in sick for trivial reasons, such as a hangover, many employees cited stress or tiredness as the reason. This suggests that they or their employers do not equate these conditions with physical illnesses, or do not recognise the potential seriousness if these are not properly addressed.

Over one in six (17 percent) of those who have called in sick, despite not being ill, did so because they were tired. 12 percent of respondents said they needed time off due to work-related stress but didn’t want to admit it. This suggests employee ‘burnout’, caused by a lopsided work/life balance, is one of the leading causes of absenteeism. It also highlights a concerning lack of communication between employees and their employers when conditions in the workplace are contributing to poor health. Employer attitudes towards staff leave are also a significant cause of unnecessary absence: almost a quarter (23 percent) felt they had to call in sick because they had a family emergency but did not want to use annual leave, while one in ten (9 percent) wanted time off but instead called in sick as their employer made them feel guilty about taking annual leave.

However, some have pulled a sickie for more trivial reasons, with 9 percent saying they had a hangover and 12 percent turning to unnecessary sick leave when they wanted time off but had run out of annual leave. It is important for employers to understand why their employees are going to such lengths and conversations about the work environment and what is expected from both employers and employees can be beneficial in any organisation struggling with a high rate of absence.

A quarter (24 percent) of employees agreed that greater flexibility around working hours would most dissuade them from taking unnecessary sick leave, while 16 percent pointed towards a better work/life balance or reduced workload. Almost one in five (19 percent) believe an incentive scheme to reward attendance would avoid absenteeism, while one in ten say they would be most dissuaded from taking unnecessary sick leave by a better employee benefits package that makes them feel valued and cared for. Paul Avis, Marketing Director at Canada Life Group Insurance, comments: “There is a big difference between calling in sick because of a hangover and doing so because of more serious problems such as stress or being overworked. While it is unlikely employees will repeatedly pull a sickie for trivial reasons, failing to address underlying issues such as workplace stress and an unhealthy work/life balance will undoubtedly result in recurrent patterns of absenteeism. This will then have a significant negative impact on business productivity. Employers must ensure that their organisation’s culture doesn’t lead to employee burnout. A positive approach to using annual leave and a mature dialogue about flexibility in working hours is more likely to ensure employees remain happy and healthy. A better employee benefits package will also ensure staff feel valued, as well as providing services such as Employee Assistance Programmes that can help with more serious wellbeing issues.”