Nearly one in three workers admit taking a sick day to go on holiday, survey finds

Nearly a third of workers said they have taken a sick day from work to go on holiday, according to a survey by SMC Coach Hire. 

The survey found 31% admitted to skiving off to travel. 

Millennials were the biggest culprits, with 49% saying they had pulled a sickie to extend annual leave. 

Only 17% of those aged 45 to 54 admitted to taking a sick day for a holiday, while a third of 20 to 24 year-olds said they had done the same.

London had the highest rate, with half of respondents in the capital confessing to taking a sick day to jet off.

Stephen Chesters, director at SMC Coach Hire, said: “Holiday costs continuing to rise is clearly influencing the decisions people make around travel, with many Brits looking for ways to maximise both their annual leave and their budgets.

“While taking an unauthorised sick day or removing children from school during term time can carry risks, the findings show that a significant number of people are still prepared to do so in order to secure cheaper trips and spend more time away with family. 

“At SMC, we’re seeing strong demand from travellers planning ahead and looking for more affordable group travel options, particularly outside of peak periods where prices can increase dramatically.”