A THIRD of workers have thrown a 'sickie' when they were too tired or hungover to face a day in the office, a new report has revealed.

Women are more likely than men to take time off after a heavy night out, while some workers have admitted to calling in sick so they can catch up on personal admin.

Lloyds TSB Insurance said its survey of 2,000 people showed that the sickie had become a staple of British culture.

Phil Loney, managing director of Lloyds TSB Insurance, said: "British workers are obviously feeling under pressure as long hours and less job security take their toll and are seeking ways to put the odds in their favour.

"With the cost of all absenteeism standing at around £476 per employee per year, small business owners cannot underestimate the importance of ensuring their employees are not feeling over worked and under appreciated."

It is not all bad news for bosses. Another survey suggests employees may not hate work quite as much as they did last year.

The most recent absence study from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development suggests absence levels have been cut by 10 per cent from 2003 down from 10 days per year to nine on average.

The CIPD is encouraging employers to adopt "progressive people management policies", which, translated from business-speak, means bosses should try to make work less tedious for their employees.

"Our research shows that tackling absence management has become one of the biggest priorities for employers," said Ben Willmott, employee relations adviser at the CIPD.

"But to be effective, employers must ensure they have progressive people management policies in place, which are less likely to lead employees to wake up and think 'I don't feel like going to work today'.

"This means ensuring that staff are treated fairly at work, have achievable targets and the support, training and recognition to help them achieve these targets."

Bosses may have their work cut out if they are aiming for an entirely willing and honest workforce.

The Lloyds TSB survey also showed that half of office staff had taken stationery home, and more than a third had planned a holiday during work hours.

Andy Tate