Staff are expected to catch their biggest ever Friday Feeling ‘bug’ this week, experts have warned.

With the 2008 Leap Year falling on a Friday for the first time in 28 years, many workers will think they have every right to take at least a few hours off.

Leading personnel software company Employersafe came up with research last year which revealed Friday Feeling absenteeism was costing the UK economy and business a staggering £50 million a year.

Now they say February 29th could be the biggest day ever for the Friday Feeling possibly proving more tempting than ever for workers to leave early as they are technically not being paid for the extra day’s work in this Leap Year.

Peter Mooney of Employersafe said that the Leap Year falling on a Friday is a ‘double whammy’ for businesses trying to cut absenteeism.

He added: “Many businesses pretty much grind to a halt due to workers suffering from the Friday Feeling and our evidence collected last year suggested that more and more workers are seeing Friday afternoon as an unofficial holiday.

“This makes a Leap Year Friday even more of an issue for bosses looking to keep staff motivated and working well and we suggest a gesture such as allowing workers to leave an hour early or providing some drinks on the Friday afternoon to compensate, might be appropriate and appreciated. The National Trust are even giving staff the day off to encourage them to reduce their carbon footprints.”