Calling in sick

Data from the Office of National Statistics has revealed that customer service workers are almost twice as likely to take time off sick as other employees, the Guardian reported today.

Thinking about it, I realised that there are a number of common expressions referring to illness and work. Here are some of them:

to take time off sick = to take time off work because you are ill: "The doctor advised her to take time off sick."

to take sick leave = as above: "She's taken two days sick leave this week."

to go off sick = to take time off: "Women are more likely to go off sick than men, the report revealed."

to be off sick = to not be at work because you are ill: "I'm sorry, but Mr Evans is off sick today."

to call in sick = to phone your company and tell them that you are ill: "I feel dreadful. I think I'll call in sick today."

a sick day = the number of days that you take off in a year due to illness: "She's taken ten sick days already this year."

to bunk off = to find a way not to go to work / school: "I don't think he's ill. I think he's just bunking off."

to pull a sickie = to fake illness so that you don't need to go in to work: "He's pulling another sickie - I'm sure of it."

absenteeism = the problem when people are absent from work (for whatever reason, including illness): "Absenteeism is a big problem in the call centre business."