Sickness absence grips the UK as 3.6 million staff call in sick

The UK is suffering its worst ever week for sickness absence, according to reports.

Absence management firm FirstCare claims that more than 3.6 million employees have rung in ill since Monday.

Flu, winter vomiting, coughs, colds and other ailments have brought Britain to its knees at the beginning of 2008.

FirstCare's Aaron Ross told the Metro newspaper: "More than 3.6m employees are currently on their sick beds. This is the worst period of sickness we have ever seen. The trend shows no sign of letting up."