MAN FLU – the facts

Wimpy IT workers called Barry from Scotland are set to be the most likely to be struck by ‘man flu’ this winter, according to a nationwide survey of women quizzed about their men’s sickness records.

The survey conducted by Fisherman’s Friend found that the typical British bloke takes an average of four days off a year with cold and mild flu symptoms – twice as many as women – costing British industry an estimated £4 billion.

According to the survey, blokes called Barry, Dave and Brian – traditionally all good burly blokes names – were found to be most likely to go down with ‘man flu’, while men called Alan, Andrew and James are among those least likely to complain of the legendary condition.

Overall, three out of five women claimed their man only had to show symptoms of a light cold, runny nose or headache to claim ‘man flu’ status and take time off work.

A Fisherman’s Friend spokesman laughs: “Man Flu is fairly recent phenomenon that has emerged alongside the ‘metrosexual’ male. When Fisherman’s Friend lozenges were created in 1865 for the fishermen to help relieve the extreme conditions on their long voyages, men were real men. They wouldn’t have got their wives to call their captains to excuse them from their voyages because of a runny nose! Our motto is ‘the strongest there is’, something all these IT Barrys should take note of!”

(Back to news)