Off the hook: If you've ever wondered why you've been left on hold for hours and repeatedly let down by customer service reps, it might be because they're all too busy calling in sick to call you back, at least if the British experience is anything to go by.

Data from the UK's Office of National Statistics found customer service workers were twice as likely to pull a sickie as the average employee. It found that 4.8 per cent had taken at least one day off the previous week, compared with the national average of 2.5 per cent.