LAST Friday, two days into the New Year, was apparently the day when most of the country were “pulling a sickie”.

Not being able to face the final day of the working week, after eight days of merry-making and carousing over Christmas and New Year, the British workforce, it was alleged, downed-tools and stayed at home.

But, of course, the excuse could not be given that the labour market had encountered a dose of inertia, rather most able-bodied people who are normally fit and healthy had simultaneously succumbed to a bout of seasonal flu.

Now, there is a lot of it about, as doctors are trained for five years to say, but the laws of probability would surely be fit to bust if 28m people all went down with the same bug on the same day. However, faced with a slow day at the office, as opposed to a hard day’s grind in front of daytime TV, a lot of people, it seems, settled down to the rigours of Cash in the Attic and Deal or No Deal? on January 2.

Perhaps they were influenced by TV all along? There is a current TV ad for an over-the-counter cold remedy which actively encourages sufferers “to throw a sickie”.

The commercial advocates that those with flu-like symptoms should “take a Benylin day” in bed, rather than go to work.

On this one, I wouldn’t need asking twice – not because I’m a malingerer, but simply because I love the warm, syrupy taste of Benylin.

If I’d been exhorted to take a Veno’s cough mixture day, I might have thought again. Naturally, little Britain is up in arms about this.

The Federation of Small Businesses has said that the campaign would encourage absenteeism on a large scale, costing firms millions in the credit crunch.

The FSB has also com-plained about an associated website which gives top tips on how to call in sick.

Isn’t this typical of the puritan streak running through the UK? We work the longest hours in Europe, have a significantly worse work-life balance, yet the suggestion that people who feel ill should stay at home is put on a par with the end of civilisation as we know it.

Benylin also defends itself by stating that Britain has the lowest rate of sickness absenteeism in Europe, as confirmed by Trades Union Congress research.