The data also showed that British workers take 35 million ‘sickies' a year - accounting for more than a quarter of the total in Europe. The true figure is likely to be higher as many people would not own up to feigning illness.
In the UK one in five respondents said the last time they took a sick day was for a personal issue such as the break-up of a relationship or because they had to let a repairman into the home. One in eight workers took time off to look after another member of their family.
The data also showed that British workers take 35 million ‘sickies' a year
"Employers would be well advised to tackle the issues of sickness and workplace absence head on, as these seriously impact efficiency and hit their balance sheets," said Peter Abelskamp from Aon Consulting.
The study also showed that half of Britons would not take sick days if they were offered more flexible working hours or the right to ‘social days'.
The Confederation of British Industry has estimated that sick days cost the economy £2.5bn a year and small firms with limited numbers of staff are particularly affected when staff are absent.
