SACRAMENTO, CA - Have you ever taken a fake sick day? You hear about it all the time, typically from co-workers who trust that you won't tell the boss on them when they decide to take a fake sick day. But how many Americans actually do it?
A survey by Harris Interactive for Kronos Incorporated found that about half of all Americans have taken a fake sick day. That's on par with Canada and Australia.
Some 71 percent of Chinese workers admit to calling in sick when they weren't. Sixteen percent of French workers also admit to playing hookie.
Most people surveyed said they called in sick because they felt stressed or needed the day off. Many said they wouldn't have taken a fake sick day if they could work more flexible hours or work from home.
And according to the survey, nearly half of all Chinese workers and about one-third of U.S. workers, also said it would make a difference if they had more paid time off.
Wendy Earle is a social worker in Sacramento who says it is common for workers in her field to take what they call a 'mental health day'.
"Oh my gosh, everyone needs a mental health day," she said. "If we can take a nice day with the family and breathe and exercise and be together, that's really going to help the stress."
News10 conducted its own survey, asking people if they had ever taken a fake sick day. Based on 219 responses, 63 percent said they have done it; 24 percent said they never have, and 12 percent said, "not if my boss is reading this."
News10/KXTV