Workers under 30 are more likely to stay at home with a cold or flu than the over-55s, a survey has revealed.
The poll of 3,000 people found that less than half of those over 55 had taken a day off for a cold in the last year compared to more than two thirds of under-30s.
Younger people are also more likely to take time off work due to stress, citing work-related pressures, money issues and relationship problems among the common causes.
In contrast, the over 55s don't see stress as a reason to call in sick. In fact, 85 per cent said they would only call in sick if they were bed-ridden.
The evidence suggests younger workers are paying the price for burning the candle at both ends, with one in five aged 18 to 29 admitting they had missed work because they were too 'hungover'.
Another explanation is the impact of unhealthy lifestyles among the under-30s, who were more likely to eat junk food than older people, and half as likely to eat the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables.
Peter Morton, the marketing manager of multivitamin manufacturer Multibionta, which commissioned the survey, said: "Today's fast paced, work-hard play-hard lifestyle appears to be taking its toll on the younger generation.
"A poor immune system caused by smoking, drinking and a lack of nutritionally beneficial food, lends itself to people being more susceptible to coughs and colds which in turn can lead to sick days."