The most believable excuse for calling in sick is.

Phoning in sick for work? Flu, migraines and even recovering from surgery may not be good enough reasons to pull a sickie.

A new study of 2,500 employers and employees across the UK has revealed that vomiting is considered the most acceptable reason to take the day off, with 73 per cent of respondents saying it would make them retreat beneath the duvet, the Independent reported.

Diarrhoea took the second spot, with 71 per cent indicating they would rather not chance the journey to work.

But feeling stressed or depressed seems to earn far less sympathy, both from workers and from bosses. The study suggests you might just be expected to grin and bear it.

Only 17 per cent thought mental health issues were a valid reason for sick leave - only slightly more than the percentage who would call in sick only if they had to go to hospital.

Inji Duducu, director of healthcare provider Benenden, which conducted the study, believes the statistics highlight problems in the way mental health is perceived at work.

She said that there seems to be a clear lack of understanding from some employers in terms of employee well-being, noting that there is a strong commercial case for having a healthy and engaged workforce, yet employers are evidently ignoring the impact of an employee's physical and mental well-being on productivity, absenteeism and [length of service.

The survey also suggests that older employees are less inclined to take a day off than their younger colleagues. The statistics show that 63 per cent of people over 50 haven't taken a day off this year, nearly twice the figure for those aged 18 to 24.

The study revealed that men are less likely to call in sick than women. But when they do, they're more likely to say it's because they are feeling tired, under the weather or hung-over. Perhaps some early nights are in order.