Melbourne Cup holiday sees spike in VIC worker sickies

Employers have raised concerns about the tendency for workers to call in sick on the Monday before the Melbourne Cup public holiday, the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry says.

While many employees give themselves a legitimate four-day weekend by applying for leave, many also have a tendency to fake an illness, VECCI workplace relations policy manager Alexandra Marriott said.

"Anecdotally, we see from year to year that there are quite significant unplanned absences or sickies on that day," Marriott said.

"It is a problem and it's certainly one that is complex to manage for employers.

"It does concern some employers and obviously some employers are impacted more than others.

"It is a difficult problem to address because employers have limited capacity to assess the authenticity of a day of sick leave."

Marriott said it was difficult to put a figure on the costs associated with absenteeism on the day before the Melbourne Cup but said it created reduced productivity and engagement.

But taking a four-day weekend using allocated annual leave was good for parts of the economy, particularly tourism, she said.

While some private schools are giving students the day off, the Department of Education said all government schools will be open and pupils are expected to attend.