A new report suggests some British workers fake illness to increase their holiday allowance. Image courtesy of: Vangelis Thomaidis/sxc.hu
Almost one in four Brits have lied to their boss in order to get their holiday leave approved, a new survey from
Skyscanner has revealed.
The Skyscanner poll of over 1,000 workers showed that over a third (39 percent) book time off more than six months in advance in a bid to get the dates they wanted above their colleagues. As a result almost a quarter (24 percent) are resorting to underhand tactics to also get their time off approved.
Of the tactics employed, 12 percent have lied to their colleagues, claiming that their leave dates were already booked, while seven percent
‘pulled a sickie’ claiming to their employers that they were ill when in fact they were on holiday. Further desperate attempts for time off include four percent who have faked a family emergency, and one percent who have even pretended that their holiday was actually their honeymoon, to trump other colleagues’ requests for time off that week.
Other deceitful tactics to secure holiday time off included: ‘claiming I was snowed in’, ‘saying I had a funeral of a close friend’ and ‘eating a handful of shampoo so I’d be sick in the office.’
Sam Poullain, Skyscanner spokesman commented: “With many companies prohibiting staff from taking leave at the same time, people can go to surprising lengths to ensure they get their holiday leave when they want it. Our survey reveals that there are many of us who are willing to be quite ruthless in the battle with their colleagues for time off.”
These are the lengths people go to ensure time off is approved:
- Booked time off more than six months in advance (39 percent)
- Lied and told colleagues holiday time was already booked (12 percent)
- Called into work sick (seven percent)
- Pretended a family member was sick (four percent)
- Pretended it was for a honeymoon (one percent)
- Other (five percent)
- None of the above (32 percent)