Many workers are making excuses to avoid having to go back to work the day after they come back from holiday, it has emerged.
According to research by travelsupermarket.com, over a quarter of workers will pull a sicky to use as a buffer day to recover from their holiday and only a third of these employees tell the truth about the time off.
The most popular excuse by skiving staff is to fake an illness or claim they have to look after someone else who isn't well, while others blamed car trouble or missed or delayed flights as the reason.
Holidays manager at travelsupermarket.com Kayte Williams comments that staff may benefit from taking shorter breaks more frequently.
"Our advice is to perhaps take shorter holidays, more often if you can. That way the pain of returning to work and the need for a buffer day, should be lessened - in theory at least," Ms Williams remarks.
At the other end of the scale is personal motivation and attitude. "It's well known that a high proportion of people are not happy with their jobs," explains ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg.
"Sickies are rare when employees love what they do. Shorter holidays are good, but choosing and staying on the right career path is often a great deal better," he remarks.
The survey found that civil servants are the worst offenders for taking buffer days, while teachers set the best example.
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