Phoning in sick could soon become a thing of the past as new research shows a quarter of bosses now accept text messages and emails from workers who ‘throw a sickie’.

The latest findings were announced as employment experts were set for a major spike in absenteeism today (Mon Feb 1st), dubbed ‘National Sickie Day’.

The first Monday in February is the day in the year when staff are traditionally most likely to take an unofficial day off work. 

Peter Mooney, of the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) who conducted the latest research, believes ‘throwing a sickie’ just got easier and fears for the cost to the national economy.

Mr. Mooney, Head of Consultancy at ELAS, said: “The traditional phone call was always a way for bosses to decipher whether staff members were bluffing or genuinely ill.

“But now, as our research shows, many employers are dispensing with it which leads me to think that the system will be open to more abuse than ever.

“The cost to the economy could soar and that is the last thing we need as we are slowly crawling out of the deepest recession for generations.

“We need staff fit and healthy and willing to work hard to get business booming again. I do wonder if allowing them to text or email in sick is the most affective way of doing that.

“However our research also concluded that employers who accepted electronic forms of communication for sickness were also the ones who trusted their staff the most.”

Research suggests that around 350,000 workers will “throw a sickie” today (Mon, Feb 1st). 

It is estimated this will cost industry over £30 million, taking into account factors such as lost business opportunities, reduced levels of service and output, and salary and overtime payments incurred.  

Half of the 1,500 company bosses interviewed for the nationwide survey said they did not believe staff who complained of being ill.

And the excuses get lamer every year, including one worker who insisted he couldn’t get into work because the road outside his house was too busy to cross.

And the employee who said his mother-in-law was supposed to die at the weekend but didn’t. Another told bosses he had a cold and was sneezing so much it made his teeth hurt.

Mr. Mooney of ELAS added: “At least the dodgy excuses can give bosses something to laugh at but the reality is that absenteeism is a serious concern for modern business.

“And our research also showed that employers do not believe their staff are more likely to come into work ill because of fears over job security. In fact many believe workers use the stress of the economic collapse as an excuse to take more time off ill.”

Five lamest excuses
   1. Road was too busy to cross
   2. Mother-in-law meant to die at weekend but didn’t
   3. Sneezing so much I hurt my teeth
   4. My fake tan’s gone wrong
   5. I’ve been stabbed in the head by my wife

National Sickie Day was established in 2006 when surveys found the first Monday in February was the worst day in the year for absenteeism.