Lawyers, estate agents and librarians take the most time off work due to colds and flu than anyone else, according to a new survey by Multibionta Immune Support.

Legal eagles have had an average of four days off in the past year and estate agents have called in sick due to colds and flu three days.

Even librarians have two days off every year– more than the UK average of just one day.

More than one in ten workers have taken so many days off they have ended up getting a warning from their boss.

Despite taking so many days off work, the Multibionta Immune Support poll, found that only 37 per cent of those polled feel guilty when they phone in sick due to a cold or flu.

A considerate 46 per cent admit they do worry about lumbering their colleagues with their work load when they are off ill and more than a third say they stay at home because they don’t want to pass their cold germs on to other people.

But an unsympathetic 44 per cent of the 2,000 workers polled get fed up when their colleagues are constantly phoning in sick due to colds and flu.

Some worry about NOT going into work as 45 per cent fear that their colleagues think they are just pulling a sickie when they really do have a cold or flu.

But they have reason to think that sometimes as a cheeky 22 per cent admit to inventing a cold or flu bug just to get some extra time off work.

Not everyone calls in sick though as, despite being in the professions which are more susceptible to picking up cold and flu bugs, nurses and teachers only call in sick one day every year.

And 37 per cent of sickly Brits go into work, despite feeling under the weather, because they are worried about what their boss will think about them if they call in sick with a cold or flu.

Another 14 per cent have gone into work because they are scared another colleague will end up doing their job better than them.

Professor Alex Gardner who has studied the effects of colds and flu said “taking time off work due to illness, especially around this time of year when colds and flu are rife is a cause of concern for all types of employees. I’d suggest trying to prevent a cold by taking a daily probiotic multivitamin like Multibionta from Seven Seas. The unique blend of probiotics called TriBion Harmonis has been clinically proven to help reduce the severity and duration of colds , leaving you free to go into work”.

The poll found that people are probably better off staying at home as a staggering 57 per cent of workers admit their performance isn’t up to their usual standards.

More than one in ten say they suffer so much their work goes completely downhill and they have even made some massive mistakes because they felt so ill with their cold.

Top 20 occupations for days off with a cold or flu
1. Lawyer
2. Estate agent
3. Librarian
4. Electrician
5. Researcher
6. PR officer
7. Graduate/trainee
8. Charity worker
9. Travel agent
10. Scientist
11. Builder
12. Customer service rep
13. Nurse
14. IT Worker
15. Banker
16. Student
17. Teacher
18. Call centre worker
19. Engineer
20. Accountant


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