Sure, you must have been genuinely ill to have taken an off from work, but you should know that 50 percent of your colleagues have probably already branded you a skiver.

Nine out of 10 of your colleagues will be more worried about having to work harder in your absence than feeling any sympathy.

And only eight percent will be a tad bit worried about you.

A quarter of those surveyed said they were the only people who were nice to them when they were poorly, revealed the survey conducted by nasal decongestant Otrivine.

"It makes no sense to bring germs into the office so people sensibly stay at home when their sniffing, sneezing and coughing gets the better of them," the Daily Express quoted a spokesman as saying.

"Unfortunately, while rationally we understand that this is the right thing to do, emotionally we often think our sick colleagues are 'putting it on'.

"Of course, when we ourselves are sick, we expect everyone to believe us."