UK employees lying to take time off work, says PwC

Employment Law & HR Update 20/07/2011
 

According to new research by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one in three UK employees openly admit to lying in order to take time off work.

The research – which looked at attitudes to absence in the workplace – found that the main reason behind the supposed sick days was that workers were disillusioned with their jobs.

Sixty-one per cent of employees reported that they lied to take time off due to being 'bored and depressed' by work. Eighteen per cent blamed hangovers, whilst 11 per cent blamed good weather as the reason behind their 'skiving.' Five per cent attributed their absence to romance whilst one in five workers blamed family responsibilities.

HR consulting partner at PwC, Neil Roden, said, “Absenteeism costs British business around £32 billion a year, but our findings suggest a large chunk of this loss is preventable."

“If people are bored and depressed with their jobs, employers need to think creatively about how they can get people back in gear. Rather than a sign of laziness, unwarranted leave can mean people are under-used,” he added.

Mr Roden suggested that companies could look and rolling out flexible working arrangements and ensuring that no staff member feels taken for granted in the workplace.

“With UK absenteeism levels double those recorded in the US, it is vital British employers get to grips with the problem to ensure the UK remains competitive,” Mr Roden added.