'Sickies' are costing employers millions of pounds, a new survey revealed.

Mondays were found to be the days most employees would take off with the excuse of falling ill, while they are actually enjoying a sneaky mini-breaks or longer weekend.

Nine in ten firms participating in the Employment Law Advisory Services (ELAS) survey said that their employees were more likely to phone in sick on Mondays and Fridays.

The motivation to go to work seems to be lowest on Mondays, with more than half of workers choosing that day to pull a 'sickie'.

Nearly a quarter cut their weeks short by phoning in sick on a Friday.

It is estimated that this practice is costing UK businesses up to £12 billion every year.

"Everyone suffers from the Monday morning blues from time to time," acknowledged Pam Rogerson, head of personnel at ELAS.

"But some people are taking this to extremes, not necessarily taking a lot of time off sick over the course of a year, but making sure they only ever fall ill around a weekend."

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