Happiness at work can reduce the likelihood of staff pulling sickies, research shows.

The study, carried out by German professor Juergen Wegge, found that there was a clear correlation between high sickness and levels of job satisfaction and job involvement.

The research took place at Ludwig Maximiliams University using workers from the German Civil Service organisation.

According to newbusiness.co.uk, Wegge said that sickies cost the UK economy between £10 billion and £12 billion every year.

He added that understanding the cause of absence in their businesses is the best way for companies to root out the harmful proliferation of sickies.

Other reports recently have said that sickies are regularly pulled due to binge drinking or the death of a pet dog.

The Glasgow Daily Record reported that Brits take 27 million alcohol-related sick days each year.

Snowfall, such as that experienced in London in February, also encourages ill at ease workers to have a day off, it is thought.