A NEW survey predicts an outbreak of absenteeism during this month's Olympic Games.

The survey, by the Business Software Centre, claims that one in five of the workforce in the south of England admit to throwing a sickie during major sporting events. Indeed, men are almost twice as likely as women to skip work.

Dennis Grant, chief executive of Swindon Chamber of Commerce, was not surprised by the results of the survey.

He said: "This is pretty normal, actually, but the Olympics don't seem to have all that much effect. Football, and to a lesser extent cricket cause far more problems."

"Actually I have watched the trend over the last three Olympics and have noticed that it depends on the event. Nobody misses work for a discus final, but if it's the 100m it's a different matter."

He suggested that busi-nesses should prepare them-selves for this phenomenon.

He said: "It's not absence that is a problem, it's unplanned absence."

Mr Grant suggested that businesses could introduce the back-to-work interview, which may make people think twice about taking unwarranted sick leave.

His advice to employees thinking about throwing a sickie was succinct.

"Please don't do it," he said.

"Use a video and record what you want to watch, like the rest of us. The usual perception is that the employee is taking advantage of the employer.

"But actually they are also letting down their own work colleagues, who have to fill in for them."

Paul Archer, head of employment law at Lemon & Co in Swindon, said: "The employer is in a position to insist that people finish their working day at the normal agreed time.

"If they want to agree an early finish time that's OK, but there is no obligation."

He said providing companies followed fair disciplinary procedures, leaving work early could be reasonable grounds for dismissal.

"If there are reasonable grounds for believing that someone is not genuinely sick and they are just saying they are, that in itself is potentially serious misconduct.

"It needs to be reasonable grounds.

"And there needs to be some evidential basis, and the burden is on the employer to find out."

Mr Archer said that the best way is to strike a deal where perhaps the employee could come to work an hour early and then leave early.

"Fostering general goodwill amongst employees is generally seen as a good long-term aim," he said.