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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| UK workers 'pull sickies to avoid going to work' | UK workers 'pull sickies to avoid going to work' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Two in five adults would fake a sick day if they needed a day off, a Com Res survey for the BBC suggests. | Two in five adults would fake a sick day if they needed a day off, a Com Res survey for the BBC suggests. |
| When questioned on their morals and values, people admitted to lying about sickness, stealing and taking credit for other people's work. | When questioned on their morals and values, people admitted to lying about sickness, stealing and taking credit for other people's work. |
| While younger staff lied more often than their elders, they were more willing to stand up for colleagues. | While younger staff lied more often than their elders, they were more willing to stand up for colleagues. |
| The average worker takes about four sick days a year, according to the Office for National Statistics. | |
| The most common reasons for calling off work in 2018 were the common cold, musculoskeletal problems (like back pain), mental health conditions and "other" problems. | The most common reasons for calling off work in 2018 were the common cold, musculoskeletal problems (like back pain), mental health conditions and "other" problems. |
| Sickness due to fibbing was unsurprisingly not included in the government's statistics. | Sickness due to fibbing was unsurprisingly not included in the government's statistics. |
| The UK-wide survey questioned 3,655 adults aged over 16. | The UK-wide survey questioned 3,655 adults aged over 16. |
| Cover for colleagues | Cover for colleagues |
| The findings are part of a larger survey about what people in the UK find right and wrong. | The findings are part of a larger survey about what people in the UK find right and wrong. |
| As well as faking sickies, employees are often also prepared to cover for colleagues who they know might be faking it. | As well as faking sickies, employees are often also prepared to cover for colleagues who they know might be faking it. |
| The survey found that 66% would not tell bosses if they knew their colleagues were absent, but not ill. | The survey found that 66% would not tell bosses if they knew their colleagues were absent, but not ill. |
| Hayley Lewis, an occupational psychologist, said it takes confidence to tell your boss you need a break, and if the relationship is bad, employees will tend to be less truthful. | Hayley Lewis, an occupational psychologist, said it takes confidence to tell your boss you need a break, and if the relationship is bad, employees will tend to be less truthful. |
| "'People don't leave an organisation - they leave their boss' goes the saying," says Ms Lewis. | "'People don't leave an organisation - they leave their boss' goes the saying," says Ms Lewis. |
| Also, people can be influenced by their boss' behaviour, she adds. | Also, people can be influenced by their boss' behaviour, she adds. |
| "We look to role models. If the boss is dragging themselves in, not taking breaks, eating lunch at their desk, it reinforces the message that it is not okay to take a break," she says. | "We look to role models. If the boss is dragging themselves in, not taking breaks, eating lunch at their desk, it reinforces the message that it is not okay to take a break," she says. |
| That often leaves employees only one option, Ms Lewis says - to ring up sick. | That often leaves employees only one option, Ms Lewis says - to ring up sick. |
| Men were almost twice as likely as women to say they would accept praise from a boss for work that someone else had done. | Men were almost twice as likely as women to say they would accept praise from a boss for work that someone else had done. |
| And almost a third said they stole work supplies like staplers and notebooks. | And almost a third said they stole work supplies like staplers and notebooks. |
| Standing up for women | Standing up for women |
| The younger the employee, the more likely they were to speak up for women in the workplace. | The younger the employee, the more likely they were to speak up for women in the workplace. |
| Workers under 34 were more than twice as likely than older colleagues to turn to senior managers, or intervene. if they saw a male boss touch a female employee on the back during a meeting. | Workers under 34 were more than twice as likely than older colleagues to turn to senior managers, or intervene. if they saw a male boss touch a female employee on the back during a meeting. |
| Only 16% of workers aged over 55 agreed. | Only 16% of workers aged over 55 agreed. |
| While 70% of younger adults would report or intervene if a senior figure in a company made sexual comments towards a younger colleague, less than half of people over 55 would do the same. | While 70% of younger adults would report or intervene if a senior figure in a company made sexual comments towards a younger colleague, less than half of people over 55 would do the same. |
| Have you ever pulled a sickie or covered for a colleague who has? Have you ever been caught out? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you ever pulled a sickie or covered for a colleague who has? Have you ever been caught out? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |