A quarter of Brits have lied to get holiday time off

Almost one in four Brits have lied to their boss in order to get their holiday leave approved, a new survey from flight comparison site Skyscanner has revealed.

The Skyscanner poll of over 1,000 workers showed that over a third (39%) book time off more than six months in advance in a bid to get the dates they wanted above their colleagues. As a result almost a quarter (24%) are resorting to underhand tactics to also get their time off approved.

Of the tactics employed, 12% have lied to their colleagues, claiming that their leave dates were already booked, while 7% ‘pulled a sickie’ claiming to their employers that they were ill when in fact they were on holiday.

Further desperate attempts for time off include 4% who have faked a family emergency, and 1% who have even pretended that their holiday was actually their honeymoon, to trump other colleagues’ requests for time off that week.

Other deceitful tactics to secure holiday time off included: ‘claiming I was snowed in’, ‘saying I had a funeral of a close friend’ and ‘eating a handful of shampoo so I’d be sick in the office.’

Sam Poullain, Skyscanner spokesman commented: “With many companies prohibiting staff from taking leave at the same time, people can go to surprising lengths to ensure they get their holiday leave when they want it. Our survey reveals that there are many of us who are willing to be quite ruthless in the battle with their colleagues for time off.”

Lengths people go to ensure holiday time off is approved: 

Booked time off more than 6 months in advance (39%) 
Lied and told colleagues holiday time was already booked (12%) 
Called into work sick (7%) 
Pretended a family member was sick (4%) 
Pretended it was for a honeymoon (1%)
Other (5%) 
None of the above (32%)