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Australian sick day report

Survey reveals the reasons Aussies fake sick days 

How many Aussies take a sick day when they aren’t actually sick? And what is the cost to Australian businesses?

From a lack of sleep to being hungover, there are various reasons Aussies choose to ‘take a sickie’ when they might not be unwell. Health insurance comparison service iSelect, surveyed 1,000 Aussies and asked if they’d taken a sick day in the past year when they weren’t sick, and what was the reason they chucked a sickie.  

The survey revealed that seven in ten (70.8%) Australians have taken at least one sick day for reasons other than physical illness in the past year. And when we take mental health days out of the mix (since they’re covered by most personal leave policies these days), 68% of Aussies still admit to chucking a sickie.

Based on the results, we crunched the numbers to see how much fake sick days are really costing businesses. With a rate of 70.8% of Australians surveyed taking at least one sick day in the past year for something other than illness, we estimate that it’s adding up to over a whopping $7.32 billion a year in lost productivity, thanks to an estimated 24.6 million days off. 

The reasons Aussies chuck a sickie 

 The findings showed the most common reason for taking a sick day was a “lack of sleep” (33.0%), with over one-third admitting to taking a sick day. In second place was “wanting to relax and recharge” (27.0%), followed by needing a “mental health day” (23.1%). When needing a mental health day wasn’t considered, “personal issues”, such as family or relationship problems, took third place, with almost one in five (19.7%) chucking a sickie for this reason.  

The most significant difference between men and women surveyed was that 26.6% of women selected using a sick day for a mental health day compared to 19.5% of men. Interestingly, 12.9% of men have taken a sick day due to a hangover compared to 8.5% of women. When it comes to family and childcare, women surveyed are more likely to take on this responsibility in place of work (20.1% of women vs. 16.3% of men).  

The reasons Aussies chuck a sickie by age 

The results showed lack of sleep and wanting to relax and recharge were the top two reasons for all age groups, except the 55-64 year old age group, who listed personal issues as the second most common reason. Gen Z and Millennials had particularly high rates of absenteeism from a lack of sleep, with 44.1% of 18–24-year-olds and 39.8% of 25–34-year-olds.  

Generally, there is a trend among participants that the likelihood of chucking a sickie decreases with age, presumably as workplace responsibilities increase. However, the highest proportion of people who admitted having pulled a sickie for reasons unrelated to illness was 84.5% of those aged 25-34 years old.  

“Our research found that it is very common for Australians to take a sickie at least once a year despite not being physically ill. A lack of sleep, wanting to relax and recharge, and mental health are the top three reasons, highlighting how some Australians might choose to prioritise self-care.  

“If you’re finding it tough to get a good night’s sleep or you’re dealing with mental health challenges, it’s important to reach out for support. Some private health insurance policies can help cover things like mental health services and sleep studies. If you’re struggling, iSelect can help compare your options from a range of Health funds to find a health insurance policy that’s right for you.”

Andres Gutierrez

General Manager – Health at iSelect

Methodology

We commissioned Pureprofile, an independent survey company, to conduct a survey of 1,002 Australians over the age of 18 to analyse the prevalence, motivations, and demographic patterns behind Australians taking sick days when they were not genuinely ill. Results from 782 Australians of typical working age (18-64) were used in the analysis of this research.

Respondents were asked whether they had taken a sick day in the past year when they weren’t physically ill and, if so, to select all applicable reasons. 

The survey results were then analysed alongside Australian Bureau of Statistics Characteristics of Employment (August 2024) data of 15-64 year olds to estimate the direct cost of sick days to businesses.

For every reason selected, it was assumed that the respondent had taken one corresponding sick day. For example, if a respondent selected “Hangover” and “Wanting to relax,” this was treated as two separate sick days. 

Calculations for sick day costs use the median hourly earnings for part-time and full-time employees, which were then multiplied by the day rate of 7.6 hours. The cost estimation assumes the same absenteeism rate across all demographics, such as part-time and full-time employees, and age groups, including those outside the scope of the survey results (15-17 year-old employees). The calculations also assume that each reason selected in the survey equates to just one sick day

iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.

iSelect General Pty Limited ABN 90 131 798 126, AFS Licence Number: 334115. Any advice provided by iSelect is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice iSelect gives you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on iSelect’s advice or purchasing any policy. You should consider iSelect’s Financial Services Guide which provides information about our services and your rights as a client of iSelect. iSelect receives commission for each policy sold that is a percentage of the premium or a flat fee. Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services. 

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sophie Ryan

Public Relations Manager

0437 028 104

[email protected]

Sophie is our Public Relations Manager and an experienced journalist, passionate about making Aussies’ lives easier by saving them time, effort, and money.

As an accomplished media spokesperson and iSelect Comparison Expert, Sophie appears on leading news and public affairs programs, including 7NEWS, Sunrise, and 9News, providing expert commentary and insights.

She also writes articles for popular websites and publications on personal finance topics, including insurance and utilities.

Sarah Grealy

Digital Public Relations Specialist

0413 363 690

[email protected]

Sarah is our Digital Public Relations Specialist, and brings more than a decade of experience in the insurance comparison industry to iSelect.

With a passion for storytelling through data-driven insights, Sarah strives to empower Aussies with practical guides and tips.

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