Sun and sport blamed for ‘summer sickies’

An epidemic of “summer sickies” has left London offices half-empty in the hot weather, new figures revealed today.

The number of people calling in sick has soared by 15 per cent since temperatures started rising at the start of July, according to absence management service Absence Assist.

The increase also seems to be linked to summer sporting events, as it started around the second week of Wimbledon as Andy Murray progressed to the men’s final and has continued during last week’s thrilling Ashes Test Match. “Offices have even had people calling in with sunstroke,” said Peter Mooney of Absence Assist.

With London’s usual absentee rate running at about four per cent, the new figure represents 25,000 more people calling in sick each day.

Sales of barbecues, food, sunscreen and garden furniture soared over the weekend as London had its hottest day of the year at 31.4C — beating Miami, Tenerife and the Bahamas. Sales of barbecues at Asda soared 200 per cent, and Tesco sold nine million burgers.

The hot weather is set to continue into next week, hitting 30C.