Aust Day weekend 'sickie' costs $62m

Don't `chuck a sickie' on Monday is the message from the NSW Business Chamber, which is urging workers to organise annual leave instead.

As many as 180,000 workers will call in sick the day before Tuesday's Australia Day public holiday, costing Australian employers up to an estimated $62 million, according to the Business Chamber.

"Calling in sick before a mid-week public holiday will fool no one and only serves to damage personal reputations and workplace morale," said chief executive Stephen Cartwright.