Fake a sick day? Non!

By Allison Linn

A new survey finds that a whopping 71 percent of Chinese workers admit to calling in sick when they weren’t.

On the other hand, only 16 percent of French workers say they have taken a fake sick day.

The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive for Kronos Incorporated, found that about half of all Americans have taken a fake sick day. That’s about on par with countries including Canada and Australia.

Not surprisingly, most people said they called in sick because they felt stressed or needed a day off.

In the United States, about one-third of those who had taken a sick day when they weren’t sick said they had done so because they needed to take care of a child.

Many said they wouldn’t have taken a fake sick day if they could work more flexible hours or work from home.

Nearly half of all Chinese workers, and about one-third of U.S. workers, also said it would make a difference if they had more paid time off.

Have you ever faked a sick day?

Results with 318 short comments
Total of 129,522 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

51.9%
Yes
67,183 votes
41.1%
No
53,247 votes
7%
Not if my boss is reading this
9,092 votes
Display Comments:
Yes

I think way more than one-third of U.S. workers have called in fake sick

  • 17 votes
#1
 - Liz-561790
 - 8:00 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

once in 10 years. went golfing instead.

  • 4 votes
#2
 - washout-2743703
 - 8:49 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

Usually due to not enough rest... or stress.

  • 22 votes
#3
 - Grr-3797292
 - 8:56 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

I stayed home due to stress, & not surprisingly France gets far more paid days off than the U.S. and China which get the least worldwide

  • 23 votes
#4
 - Taylor-2262878
 - 8:58 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Not if my boss is reading this

But yeah, really I come in when I am near death but I stayed home when my kid had a day off school (sick/teacher work day/holiday).

  • 5 votes
#5
 - tunatofu
 - 9:01 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Not if my boss is reading this

If I could telecommute, I'd take fewer days off. Sick - no worries about contagion or looking professional. Mental health - duh.

  • 10 votes
#6
 - RivkaL
 - 9:20 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

Never worked anywhere you got separate "sick" leave or "vacation", it was all just personal leave.

  • 8 votes
#7
 - htdjpf
 - 9:20 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

I have a flexible work schedule and access to sufficient time away from work so the need does not exist.

  • 4 votes
#8
 - Bigpicture-Paul
 - 9:22 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

we don't get sick days--our vacation IS used for both vacation & sick leave.

  • 7 votes
#9
 - Vulgar Lula
 - 9:36 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

My job has PTO, not 'sick days'. Every job should adopt this so workers wont have to 'fake' anything.

  • 14 votes
#10
 - YYAWannaNO
 - 9:39 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

I am the boss so I can't take a sick day.

  • 8 votes
#11
 - deborah -909179
 - 9:41 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

This is a good case against paying employees for sick time. Generally it's only government that pays employees for sick time anymore.

  • 4 votes
#12
 - keith-834246
 - 9:52 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays.

  • 10 votes
#13
 - Corporate Accounts Payable Nina
 - 9:52 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

Fake sick day ever? Of course that # will be high, that counts people who do it 6 times a year and once in 10 years. And none of them lie

  • 1 vote
#14
 - Brace for the Worse
 - 10:11 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

the people who say they haven't are lying.

  • 18 votes
#15
 - flylowguy
 - 10:13 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

We can take unofficial Mental Heath Days say after a grueling project - use a sick day, without having to pretend to be sick! Don't abuse!

  • 8 votes
#16
 - Sharkbait33
 - 10:16 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

Make sure you stay inside when playing hooky. If your boss sees you walking out of an interview on your "sick" day, it can get awkward.

  • 7 votes
#17
 - Tresspiffy
 - 10:17 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

To get away from the office politics, and control freaks, the insecure, manic, and the just plan dumb on my job.

  • 8 votes
#18
 - Judy-2348594
 - 10:23 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

Everyone has because they're tired or stressed out and need a day off. Being tired or stressed out is endemic in this world.

  • 5 votes
#19
 - Conrad in Buffalo,NY
 - 10:28 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
No

I had an ex who faked many sick days, and when she was actually sick, ....

  • 18 votes
#20
 - Baldman
 - 10:29 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

They are called Mental Health Days

  • 11 votes
#21
 - Shaun-3938815
 - 10:33 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

My boss and I call them "Mental health days" although we write sick on the leave form.

  • 4 votes
#22
 - Cru-798375
 - 10:44 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

Sometimes... You just need a mental health day!

  • 7 votes
#23
 - Calvin-2982701
 - 10:45 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
Yes

My claim to fame is calling in sick to United Airlines, from the aft deck of my boat with my shorts & tee-shirt on using my cell phone.

    #24
     - Skip-4008707
     - 10:55 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
    No

    Interesting the number of fake sick days in China. It is time for the media to stop saying US workers aren't competitive.

    • 12 votes
    #25
     - IlliniProgrammer
     - 10:57 am EDT on Thu Sep 1, 2011
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