PwC revealed this week one in three UK workers admit to having “skived” or “pulled a sickie”: taking time off under false pretenses.
Out of 1,190 people polled, 34% admitted they had pulled the wool over their bosses’ eyes for a crafty day off.
Worse, four in ten skivers said they laid the preparations for their sickie by faking symptoms around the office, and 5% of these fakers even augmented their act with bandages, crutches and makeup.
PwC collected some of the most impressive lies employees admitted they told to bag a free day off work.
Do you think you could spot these as ruses if you heard one from your staff?
1) “My rabbit ran away and I was worried foxes would eat it.”
2) “I fell out of the loft.”
3) “A nightclub bouncer beat me up.”
4) “I could not open my hand from a clamped fist.”
5) “I had amnesia.”
6) “I was having breast enhancement surgery.”
7) “I was injured during a bout of energetic sex.”
8) “I was hit in the back of the head with a dart.”
9) “My dentist found early signs of dementia whilst examining my gums.”
10) “Limescale from the shower fell into my eye.”
PwC added in its conclusions about 15% of the skivers said they only pulled a sickie because they felt they were underappreciated or deserved the time off.
The company recommended flexible working arrangements, allowing employees to make up for time off with extra hours, as a good way to counter the skiving practice.
