More employees will call in sick today than any other day of the year

The winter blues are being blamed for the high number of sick days used today, experts said. Credit: PA

More British workers will call in sick today than at any other time of year, according to a Daybreak poll.

The first Monday of February emerged as "national sickie day" with workers struggling under the weight of credit card bills, a long wait until the next holiday and wintry weather.

According to the exclusive OnePoll survey for Daybreak, almost one third of working adults pulled a sickie and men have clocked up more sick days per year than women.

However, out of the 1000 people quizzed by Daybreak, almost one fifth (16%) have taken five more sick days annually, with a further 5% taking 12 days off.

Added up with holiday entitlement and an unwell worker could end up taking a full two months off every year.

The poll also found the most popular excuses used when calling in sick:

  • Having a cold, flu or food poisoning were the excuses workers told their bosses the most.

  • A further 6% told their employer there had been a family bereavement.

  • More than half, 53%, said they did not feel guilty for pulling a sickie.

  • Being tired was the most popular reason for pulling a sickie (46%) but over 40% said it was because they didn't feel like it.

  • Half of those surveyed put on a 'fake' sick voice to call their boss.

  • London and the North West recorded the most sick days while Wales and West Midlands were the areas with the least sick days.