Big TV screens, fat bonuses keep Aussies at office

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Sydney: Many Australian businesses have installed big television screens in work places and offered lucrative bonuses and flexible hours to stop absenteeism by employees during the Sydney Games.

Others have decided to allow employees to take leave to watch the Olympics and are operating on skeleton staffing levels.

Business leaders say that as a result there have been few cases of absenteeism, or "sickies" as it is known in Australia.

"The people who really need to be at work are turning up, but those who don't, aren't," Australian Business Limited spokesman Dick Grozier was quoted as saying by the 'Daily Telegraph' on Saturday.

"The feeling out there is a bit like the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve."

(c) Reuters Limited.