Hundreds of thousands of debt-ridden workers will call in sick due to the January wage stretch, according to the Institute of Payroll Professionals (IPP).

As the third week of January is the most financially difficult time of the year, the IPP says many employees will be absent from work as they unable to afford to travel to the office.

Lindsay Melvin, chief executive of the IPP, says: “We foresee the third week of January as one of the busiest times for people to pull ‘sickies’. One primary cause could be that it has become the accepted norm for thousands of companies to pay staff before Christmas so they can enjoy the festive period.

“For the many workers who find it difficult to budget and overspent during the Christmas season, this week is going to be problematic. In these cases, employees may find that they cannot afford to transport themselves to work. Employers should be aware of this possibility and put in place contingency plans to deal with a rise in absenteeism.”