Younger people are twice as likely to call in sick and nearly four times as likely to fake an illness for a day off work, research in the UKhas found.

While just under half (44 per cent) of those aged 20 to 39 admitted lying to their boss and pulling a sickie at some point in the last five years, just 12 per cent of those aged over 50 had done so.

Just a quarter (26 per cent) of the older generation said they had taken an actual day off sick in the last year, compared to more than half (53 per cent) of those aged 20 to 29.

And while just one in 10 (11 per cent) of the over-50s said they had taken time off because of a common cold, two in five (42 per cent) of 20 to 29-year-olds confessed to doing so.

Out of more than 2,000 people questioned for the poll, nearly a third (29 per cent) of those aged 20 to 39 said they see sick leave as an extra holiday that they deserve, a comment which just four per cent of the over-50s agreed with.

Peter Corfield, managing director of British insurance company RIAS, which commissioned the study, said: “Over-50s workers continue to be a vital part of the British workforce and they should be recognised for the contribution they make.

“They bring a wealth of experience, ambition and knowledge that cannot be underestimated. It is key that we understand that workers in their 50s and 60s are not ‘old’, they are hardworking and dedicated, and very much want to work.