Research from business support firm ELAS, suggests the combination of miserable weather, commuting in the dark, post-festive-period credit card bills and the long gap between holidays makes today the day people are most likely to take some unofficial time off.
Dubbed "National Sickie Day", today will see employers suffer losses of close to £30 million in wages, lost hours and overtime as workers 'diagnose' themselves with short-term mystery illnesses, the research revealed.
The research also found that as spending cuts, tax increases and climbing travel costs bite, it is estimated that the number of people prepared to risk a day off will drop by 12.5% compared to last year, with 350,000 UK workers expected to call in ill.
Peter Mooney, head of consultancy, ELAS, said: "Over the past few years we have seen the number of people shirking their jobs increase, but it seems that the economy is finally affecting workers' consciences."
Charles Elvin, chief executive of the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), said: "At this time of year, when the days are short and the summer feels a long way off, morale in the workplace can slip and underlying issues or frustrations may come to the surface.
"Happiness is a key component in any well-functioning workplace, so it is essential for organisations to focus on boosting employees' morale during this difficult time.
"Managers should keep an eye on people's stress levels and ensure their staff have the right skills to cope with their workload. Businesses can also keep workers motivated and engaged with fresh challenges and opportunities to learn new skills."
Elvin added: "This could also be a good time to offer flexible working opportunities - options such as working from home and flexible hours could suit some employees better than the traditional office-bound 9 to 5, and will help them to make the most efficient use of their time. Businesses that can be flexible to suit the needs of their staff will see a healthier, happier workforce and increased productivity as a result."
