Spending your sick leave while actually being sick is a thought that makes us feel, well, quite ill. It’s an Australian tradition to clock up those ‘free’ hours of paid leave and reserve them for sneaky long weekends, mornings when the hangover hits a bit hard, or highly-anticipated trips to see none other than Taylor Swift.
With the pop superstar kicking off her Australian tour this week, money lender Afterpay has published new data revealing that four million Aussies would call in sick to attend a music event. That’s more than one in four of your colleagues being gutsy enough to fake the cold and flu just to see their favourite star perform live. If you’re looking around the room, it’s most likely your Gen Z and Millennial colleagues who are the bravest of the bunch, with more than 40 per cent admitting that they’d ‘chuck a sickie’.
This new data comes from Afterpay’s latest report on the nation’s enthusiasm for and spending habits around live entertainment experiences, with more than 1,000 people surveyed in January 2024.
How far would Aussies go to see a live gig? The data revealed that we’re willing to forego takeaway coffee, beauty therapies and cancel our gym memberships. Almost a quarter (23 per cent) would even prioritise live music over saving for a new car.
We’re not all chucking sickies, though. Afterpay found that almost half (47 per cent) of Aussies have already booked annual leave to attend a gig or festival this year, with spending up 14 per cent from 2023. Almost a quarter of gig-goers intend to jet set out of their hometown to attend a live gig too.
If you’re flying into Sydney to watch T-Swizzle this weekend, then perhaps it’s time to start prepping the tissue boxes and cold and flu tablets. And if you missed out on tickets, then check out our guide to the best festivals happening in Australia this year.