Skip to main content

Workers told 1.4 billion lies last year, and that’s the truth

Jan 06 2005 by Nic Paton
Print This Article

UK workers are great big fibbers – at least if you believe a report by an internet gaming firm.

The study by Cyberslotz.co.uk found UK workers told more than 1.4 billion lies to their bosses last year, with more than two thirds - 68 per cent - admitting to lying at least once a week.

The most common lies were pretending to be sick and lying about why you have arrived late for work.

Nearly four out of 10 used old chestnuts such as “the train was cancelled" or “the car wouldn’t start” or even that a family pet had died.

But workers claimed they were often put in an invidious position by their bosses wanting to know about their private lives.

A third, for instance, claimed they would blatantly lie to their boss if asked “what did you do last night?”.

Other common lies included covering about the fact they had drunk too much after work, having an occasional flutter, having a fling with a work colleague, being in an open relationship, losing their driving licence or, thankfully least frequently, being arrested.

Latest book reviews

MORE BOOK REVIEWS

Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)

Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)

Bree Groff

The solution to improved performance isn't productivity hacks or better time management � we just need to inject more joy into our time at work.

Hone - How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift

Hone - How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift

Geoff Tuff and Steven Goldbach

In a business landscape obsessed with transformation and disruption, Hone offers a refreshingly counterintuitive approach to today's organisational challenges.

Work Happier: How to be Happy and Successful at Work

Work Happier: How to be Happy and Successful at Work

Mark Price

An expertly crafted guide that doesn't just theorise about workplace satisfaction but provides a clear roadmap to achieve it.