Nearly 30% of brits admit to faking Covid-19 for sick leave, survey reveals

Almost a third of Brits admitted to faking a Covid-19 diagnosis to take a sick day, according to a recent survey by Office Freedom. 

The survey comes five years after the first confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. 

Out of those surveyed, 29.3% confessed to lying about testing positive, while 69.3% claimed they never used it as an excuse.

The survey found men were more likely to use this excuse, with 34% admitting to the fabrication, compared to 25% of women. 

Electricians topped the list of professionals faking Covid, with 80% admitting to it, followed by advertising and media professionals at 77%, and estate agents at 75%.

One in ten respondents said they faked a Covid illness more than once. 

Besides Covid, the most common excuse for calling in sick was a cold or flu at 15.4%, followed by nausea or vomiting at 12.21%, migraines at 7.5%, family emergencies at 7.4%, and period pain at 3.5%.