Record snow falls today (2 February) helped cement the reputation of the first Monday in February being ‘national sickie day’.
According to research by Friends Provident, this is statistically the worst day of the year for absenteeism, due to illness, post-Christmas blues and freezing weather.
The Britain Under Pressure report reveals that 30,000 people missed work on this day in 2008, a figure likely to be dwarfed by today’s rates as extreme weather hits the UK.
However the credit crunch and recession worries could add to the mix and hit absence rates this year, as 61% of employees feel more prone to illness, more stressed and less fit than they did three years ago.
The survey also found that 19% of people are sleeping less and 37% admit to worrying more, which could potentially trigger headaches, depression or stress-related illness.
Mark Jones, head of protection at Friends Provident, said: “Our research shows that the UK’s health is being affected by the credit crunch. As Britons feel increasingly unwell and stressed, action is needed.
“People need to make more effort to protect and care for themselves, otherwise national sickie day could be the start of a very long-term national health issue.”