One-in-3 will take sickie’ off work to watch World Cup
ONE-in-three Londoners will pull a sickie’ this summer as England bid to lift the World Cup in South Africa, according to a survey. Employees will skive an average four-and-a-half days off work during the month-long tournament
ONE-in-three Londoners will pull a 'sickie' this summer as England bid to lift the World Cup in South Africa, according to a survey.
Employees will skive an average four-and-a-half days off work during the month-long tournament, one day more than the national average in Britain.
That means an extra 31,850,000 excuses will be made across the UK in just four weeks as fans phone or text their boss faking illness, according to research by Continental Tyres, an official FIFA sponsor, which carried out the poll of 4,000 Brits.
Most surprising is one-in-10 diehard fans would even quit their job if they had a ticket for the World Cup final, but were refused time off by their boss!
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"This shows how far fans are willing to go to get to South Africa," said the company's Tim Bailey.
"Even in the current economic climate they would consider giving up their job.
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"Maybe people should think ahead and book a holiday rather risking a collision with their boss."
A dodgy stomach is the most common excuse, 28 per cent, for skiving off. Feeling sick is another ruse (23 per cent), or a headache (20 per cent).
Other excuses: food poisoning, car wouldn't start, boiler broke, kids unwell, ear ache or wife ill so having to look after the kids.
One-in-20 will even blame a death in the family for dodging work to watch next month's World Cup!
