So often we call in sick at work because we actually have a hangover

Not really something that falls under the guise of ’a woman in the evening, a woman in the morning’: calling in sick at work because you're feeling terrible lying over the toilet.

Yes, that rosé always tastes better in the summer and that little bit of sunshine begs for a few drinks. But yes. Three wines quickly become eight and a half wines and then it's misery again. It happens to the best of us, let's just say. If you truly have such a hangover that you can't get out of bed, then working the day after is an impossible task. In such a case, calling in sick is the only option. Is that even allowed?

Well, no. Nevertheless, it happens more often than you think: an average of four to six times a year we call in sick due to an excess of alcoholic refreshments the night before the respective workday. Additionally, Dutch people certainly show up at work with a severe hangover at least ten times a year. Okay, those people don't stay home lounging on the couch, but they are anything but productive on such a day. Not something that makes you very happy as an employer.

Yet there is hope for all the party animals among us. And that is the new trend that is emerging. More and more companies are giving employers a special ‘voucher’. A nice one too. They get some jokers that they can use in a year whenever they want: if you have a hangover, you can stay home. In bed. No fuss, no angry boss. You get three stickers, and if you have used all three in a year, then you just come to work, even if your head is pounding from all sixteen Moscow Mules. Somewhere a nice, modern solution. Because research shows that 60 percent of all sick reports are not really believed by the boss themselves anyway. Flu, back pain, and complaints after an accident – most employers still believe those. But with a call about a little cold or a migraine attack, you actually don't need to show up.

Well, do your colleagues a favor and especially toast on Fridays. Or Saturdays. Much more fun if you're just there on Monday at nine o'clock.

FACTS

• 70 to 90 percent of all sick reports are not related to medical complaints: it is mainly due to problems at home or at work.
• Women between the ages of 25 and 35 call in sick twice as often as men in that age group. This is because these are often the baby-making years , yes.
• In education, most people call in sick, in hospitality the least.