People in Wales take the most time off sick while those in London have the fewest number of duvet days, new research has shown.
Each year, the UK loses on average 146.6 million days a year to sickness, which hits economic outlook and affects growth.
This works out at approximately 4.5 days out per worker, however there are dramatic variations depending on where in the country you live.
Welsh people call in sick on average 5.9 days in each year, closely followed by those in the North East who average 5.1 days of illness.
Drawing a line from The Wash to the Bristol Channel, sees the rate fall to 4.1 days per person, while those in London are least likely to call their boss for time off, with an average of 3.8 sick days a year.
Heading along the M5 northbound to the M6 and towards Gretna Green and Scotland, the rate rises gradually from 4.6 days in the West Midlands, to 4.7 in the North West and finally 4.8 in Scotland.
Along the route of the A1, the East Midlands jumps to 4.9 days on average, declining slightly in Yorkshire and Humber to 4.8, rising again to 5.1 in the North East, where it drops again to 4.8 days in Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, the average is 4.4 days sick per year.
According to the ONS there is data to support the difference in absence rates across the country: 'The low sickness absence rate in London can largely be explained by the younger age profile of workers living there and the types of occupations that they do.
'There is also a large concentration of high-skilled jobs in London, which tend to have lower rates of sickness absence.'
The average UK worker calls in sick around five times a year, latest statistics show
The research was conducted by experts from Claims.co.uk who assessed information gleaned from the Office for National Statistics' sickness absence data between 2018-2022.
As well as discovering which region has the highest level of sickness, the data is broken down by public or private sector, age, sex and even type of industry, as these all have a significant impact on the number of sick days taken.
Following the post Christmas return to work, as well as dealing with the January blues, many people are struck down by flu and other respiratory illnesses, which could see them calling in sick.
Unsurprisingly, the figures show that those aged between 50 and 64 lose on average 6.1 days a year due to sickness - a total of 56.3 million days. In the 16 to 24 age cohort this falls to 2.7 days on average a year.
Minor illnesses such as coughs and colds account for 33 million lost days, while mental health conditions such as stress, depression and anxiety can result in 12 per cent if illness.
Of the English regions, those in the North East are most likely to call in sick, covering areas such a Durham, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Sunderland.
A spokesperson for Claims.co.uk said: 'Sick days lost from work can have detrimental effects on both workers and the company. For employees, frequent absences due to illness can result in increased stress and workload upon return, negatively impacting their overall job satisfaction and well-being.
'From the company's perspective, a reduction in workforce attendance can lead to productivity losses and delayed project timelines. Given the contagious nature of minor illnesses, it's no wonder they frequently lead to sick leave as they can spread quickly. Many are also left particularly vulnerable when commuting on public transport to work.'