In a new initiative aimed to prevent workers from performing what is known as doing a sickie, the government is to pay bonuses to civil servants who have a high rate of attendance.

Civil servants, a sector that comprises of Jobcentre staff, pension offices, Child Support Agency and Health and Safety Executive, take an average of 12.6 days off per year, one of the highest in the UK.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister Lord Hunt commented to the Daily Telegraph: " I certainly think using incentives is a good thing and we at the DWP, as part of this process, got some money allocated towards some incentive schemes."

Royal Mail orchestrated a similar scheme last year, whereby those who did not take any sick leave for a total of six months were given the opportunity to win one of 37 Ford Focus cars and a reward of a £150 holiday voucher.


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