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Mia – (Missing in Absence)

This employee has been off work for so long, people don’t know if they still work for the company! Colleagues say “has Joe Bloggs left or is he still off sick?” The employee can also be called an “absence ghost” because some workers are hiding, hoping no one from work will contact them while others feel overlooked and tossed aside as though they aren’t visible to their employer.

Wickies – (Working Sickies)

He is clearly sick but somehow technology manages to keep him constantly working either at home or at work. This employee really wants to help their employer by continuing to work hard and completing tasks. The problem with this is he just can’t keep up with his responsibilities. You might have to consider hiring someone just to take his blackberry away, unplug his computer, and force him to rest.

Wimp – (Works Ill Moans Persistently)

If you didn’t hear the Wimp coughing down the hall, you will know they are in work when they come over and start complaining about how unwell they feel. He’s the company downer who’s always negative and full of self-pity but won’t take time off to get better. He would prefer to come to work, get others sick, while they all wish he would just go home.

Stoic – (Sick Though Often Inbox Checking)

This employee is home ill but just can’t stop checking her inbox! She’s constantly connected to work and unable to disengage so is struggling to get better. Her colleagues suffer since she’s not easy to get a hold of in limbo land between work and bed. Why won’t she let go and pass on work to someone who is capable of completing tasks successfully on time?

Serskis – (Serial Skivers)

She is constantly missing work and conveniently her absence seems to always coincide with a big meeting or a project deadline. This employee knows the absence policy inside and out, including any loopholes. She is sneaky and constantly scheming to take another day off or to leave early. The company doesn’t know how to manage her regular absences and gets increasingly frustrated by her lack of commitment.

A recent study completed by insurance company Ellipse and professor Cary Cooper, CBE puts a face and a name to the "usual suspects" we know so well. Above is a brief description of each character to help conjure up memories and experiences from our own workplace.