LATEST figures have revealed four in ten workers in the county will call in sick because of the weather.

Research led by HSS Hire has shown that employees in Braintree take an average of five days off every winter, with seven in ten more likely to call in sick than in the summer.

The study of 300 Essex workers found the county is second only to South Wales, where workers call in sick five and a half days every winter.

Top 10 things Essex workers do to keep warm at work:

1. Drink more tea and coffee than usual (45%)

2. Sat at my desk with a coat on (40%)

3. Asked for the heating to be turned up (36%)

4.Wear gloves and a scarf at work (31%)

5. Wear a onesie to work (25%)

6. Move the desks closer to the heater (21%)

7. Take a hot water bottle to work (20%)

8. Take a portable heater to work (18%)

9. Sit in the car to warm up (15%)

10. Go to a local café to warm up (15%)

Productivity also takes a major downturn during the winter months with one in three saying their office is too cold to work in.

HSS Hire Braintree branch manager, David Mills, said: "We all love a good moan about the weather and at this time of year it’s the number one excuse for calling in sick for the people of Essex.

"The findings also highlight a more challenging commute or hostile working environment which contributes to demotivation, leading to unhappy workers.

"There’s nothing worse than having to spend your working day freezing cold and miserable, and the findings show that in these conditions our productivity takes a hit.

"At the very least, we’ve got to make sure our workplaces are warm and dry so that workers don’t dread coming into work during the winter."

More than half of those polled said they are often unable to get to work due to the weather, with four in ten not wanting to leave the house for the commute.

Those that do turn up for work in Essex are late twice a month in the winter, by 17 minutes on average, later than any other region in the country.

When asked why, nearly half of respondents stated that it took longer to defrost the car.

To keep warm in the workplace, 36 per cent ask for the heating to be turned up, whilst nearly half of workers take additional hot drink breaks to stay warm.