Anthony joked that he doesn’t like taking sick leave when he’s really sick, and would rather use that time for more fun things. (Credit: TikTok/Getty)
An Australian worker’s tongue-in-cheek confession about “game-ing the system” with sick leave reveals just how common it really is. Anthony Voulgaris said in the video that he doesn’t like taking sick leave when he’s really sick, and would rather use his time off for more fun things like “going to the beach.”
While this approach might lead to some tough meetings with HR, the concept is backed by Millie Bannister, the Gen Z founder of youth mental health charity ALLKND, who told Yahoo Finance that even if an employee isn’t feeling unwell, taking a day off can do wonders for their future productivity.
“From a cognitive-behavioral perspective, employees may justify taking sick time when they are not physically ill as a necessary step to maintain their overall health, which can be a coping mechanism for stress and dissatisfaction in the workplace,” she said.
Related
In a video described as satirical, Vourgaris said calling in sick when he was unwell felt like a waste of time.
“If you’re sick, it’s much better to spend your day making money than sitting in bed wasting away and feeling depressed,” he said.
“But when you’re not sick, it’s much better to go to the beach and have a good time. Sick leave is there for you to take advantage of it… you have to take advantage of the system.”
Have a story? Email me at stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
He may have been joking, but others said they absolutely use this tactic at work.
“I normally take sick leave along with my annual leave. For example, I took two weeks’ annual leave and then said I was sick for a week two weeks later, when in fact I was travelling for three weeks,” one person said.
The story continues
“I take time off when I’m sick, but I also give myself one Ferris Bueller day off every six months,” another wrote.
A third added: “Exactly, that’s my job.”
But some Australians have revealed why this doesn’t work for them.
“At my workplace, we still get flagged down for being sick, even when we have a doctor’s note,” one user added.
Another said: “If I’m sick on a Monday or Friday my boss demands a sick note, which costs money.”
Some people suggested telling your workplace it was a mental health day, but Bannister explained that this was a perfectly valid excuse for not turning up to work.
“People are taking time off for all sorts of psychological reasons, even though they’re not physically unwell,” she told Yahoo Finance.
“You may need rest to deal with anxiety, depression or burnout. These are just as important as physical health issues, but often don’t get the same respect.”
Does mental health leave count as sick leave?
Some workplaces offer mental health leave separately from sick leave, while others lump both under the same rubric as personal or carer’s leave.
“Employees should notify their employer as soon as possible that they are taking leave, which can be after the leave has begun,” said Dr Alice Awchiston, from the University of New South Wales.
“Employers can require evidence even for one day of leave, but the evidence must be sufficient to satisfy a ‘reasonable person’ that the leave is being taken for its intended purpose.”
“That doesn’t necessarily have to be a medical certificate issued by a doctor, it could be a statutory affidavit signed by a magistrate.”
She added that if someone simply doesn’t want to work those days, it doesn’t qualify as personal or carer’s leave.
Full-time workers are typically entitled to 10 days of personal or carer’s leave per year, and employers can require proof of leave, such as a signed medical certificate. This leave accumulates from year to year, but cannot be cashed out if you leave work.
Mental health leave can extend beyond one day if needed, Ropas said, adding that how detailed it is is up to the employee and employer.
“Employees generally will not be required to disclose details about their mental health status or personal time off,” the company said.
“However, exceptions apply if a person’s mental condition poses a danger to themselves or others.”
Generational divide over sick leave
Younger Australians are much more likely to take sick leave than older people.
Frost & Sullivan recently found that Gen Z workers take an average of 14.3 sick days per year, compared to about 8.9 days for Baby Boomers.
Bannister told Yahoo Finance that it’s down to a change in approach to work ethic.
“Younger workers, such as millennials and Gen Z, typically value work-life balance and mental health and are more likely to have the words to articulate these experiences, so they are often more comfortable taking sick time for these reasons,” she explained.
“Older workers, such as Generation X and Baby Boomers, often have a more traditional view of work ethic, feeling obligated to work even when ill due to deep-rooted beliefs about duty and productivity.”
She added that younger workers may take more sick days because they are confident they can make up hours on the list “without major impact.”
To keep up with the latest Yahoo Finance news, follow us on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram .