Workers planning a sickies bonanza

SICKIES will give Australian business a $ 2 billion Christmas hangover, with a survey showing up to 1-in-10 workers are expected to take up to three sick days to recover from the festivities.

But bosses are warning they can demand a medical certificate from workers that they suspect are not genuinely ill.

Australian Retailers Association executive director Russell Zimmerman said sick days adjoining a public holiday could be regarded as suspicious.

‘‘Employers can request a doctor’s certificate to prove a worker is genuinely sick,’’ he said yesterday. ‘‘Doctors don’t just hand them out willy-nilly these days.’’

The Australian Industry Group has calculated that staff sickies cost the Australian economy $25 billion last year.

And ‘‘presenteeism’’ staff turning up to work when they are under the weather cost another $35 billion in lost productivity.

A new survey shows that silly-season sickies will cost businesses $2 billion over the Christmas and New Year period.

The ‘‘party poll’’ of 1000 workers, commissioned by electrolyte drink Recoverlyte and conducted by Pure Profile, shows the average Australian will attend up to three social functions over Christmas and New Year.

One in five will attend up to seven celebratory events.

Of those who bother to show up after a night on the tiles, a quarter will work at half-pace the next day.

And 5 per cent will sneak a nap under the desk.

Television and radio celebrity Em Rusciano, who is a Recoverlyte spokeswoman, warned workers against using lame excuses.

‘‘If your grandmother dies three times in one year, it’s going to look a bit dodgy,’’ she said. ‘‘I’m championing telling the truth to your boss.’’