Why Brits are calling in sick at work to have sex | UK | News

Brits are going to great lengths to have sex with their partner when they’re both in the mood, even calling in sick to slip between the sheets when the moment arises. New research reveals that a quarter have admitted pulling a sickie to get it on with their lover, while 31% manage to find time for intimacy during the working day. 

And more than one in 10 (15%) confessed they’ve unknowingly called their partner for virtual sex while they were on a work Zoom call. While 10 pm may traditionally be the UK’s sexiest time, the new findings from sexual wellness brand LELO show that 12.5million adults admit to getting intimate during the standard nine-to-five working day.

 In fact, 44% confessed they’ve considered being late to work to squeeze a steamy session in with their partner. Timing is a challenge for many couples, with 48% saying they’re often not in sync with their partner’s libido.

This has led many to get creative: from pencilling intimacy into their work calendars to finding spontaneous moments to connect.  Nearly half (49%) of those surveyed say they’ve scheduled sex with their partner, and 41% do so multiple times a week. 

Developing tech in sex will be the key to couples enhancing their connection in the future, as predicted in LELO’s 2025 Futurist Report, which explores the trends shaping the sexual wellness industry.

With long-distance love on the rise, this suggests that being physically together won’t be a blocker to getting any action. Currently, 68% of millennials and 59% of Gen Z feel comfortable using technology to enhance their sex lives.

But this openness isn’t just limited to younger generations, as 52% of Gen X and 33% of baby boomers feel the same, highlighting a cross-generational shift in attitudes toward sex tech. 

A third of people polled are sexting (32%), 23% are using video calls, 22% watch porn together, 15% share voice notes, and 10% are using remote control sex toys to bridge the physical gap. 

Still, long-distance lovers face unique challenges: 57% cite timing mismatches as the biggest hurdle, followed by feeling emotionally disconnected through a screen (41%), camera shyness (38%), and even unreliable internet connections (35%). 

This isn’t surprising, given that 12% of long-distance lovers are navigating relationships spanning up to 9,999 miles—the rough distance between Britain and Australia. 

Dishing out top tips for couples to find their ultimate ‘pleasure hour’ no matter the distance, work timetable or life demands, LELO’s psychosexual therapist Kate Moyle said: “The reality is that most couples are not perfectly sexually aligned when they want sex, what they desire, or their sexual preferences, so it is always something that is developed and adapted between partners.

“Scheduling time to be intimate together is a way of offering intention and attention, which are both important for maintaining a sex life, particularly in a long-term relationship.  

“Many people note being tired, stressed, parental responsibilities and work distractions, alongside not feeling in the mood as reasons for not having sex. 

“But for most, those reasons aren’t going to change, so scheduling time can be a productive buffer and a way of ensuring that their sex life doesn’t unintentionally disappear off the priority list. 

“As we see from the Futurist Report sex tech is playing a huge role for those in long distance relationships, never before have we done more of our communicating and connecting through devices than in-person.

“Technology offers opportunities to share, connect and experience in simultaneous ways, even if they are countries apart.

The physical distance between people doesn’t have to diminish their sex lives, adapting how they ‘do sex’ can still feel just as satisfying and valid, even if it’s not an in-person experience.”

Kate Moyle’s top tips

1. Be realistic 

If you have young children, mornings before work are unlikely to be the ideal time for intimacy – especially if you already find time pressure stressful. Disrupting your usual morning routine just to squeeze in sex may end up creating more anxiety than sexual charge.  

You may need to think about changing your routine. For example, if evenings used to work well but you now find the best uninterrupted time is lunch when you’re both working from home, then give it a try. Just the act of putting the time aside for each other and your relationship is the priority. You don’t have to schedule what you do during this time.  

2. Set ground rules 

There are important conversations to be had around what feels good and what doesn’t, especially in a long-distance relationship. Ground rules could include how you send photos or videos, and how content is stored.  

Discuss if it should be in a password-protected album, and make sure that you are not connected to any other device sharing. If you’re sharing lots with each other online then feeling safe doing it will allow you to be more curious, comfortable and confident. 

3. Be tech curious 

We have embraced tech in every other area of our lives, and for many the most reliable, consistent and arguably intimate relationships can be with our devices.  

When trying something new the focus should be on how it can enhance your sexual experiences and feelings of togetherness. Treat it with curiosity and talk about it in advance – then choose something together so that you both get excited.

As with anything new, try it without pressure and see what feels good and what works for you – introducing something different might not work perfectly the first time, but you can have fun trying.  

4. Give intimacy attention 

Most couples have some level of misaligned schedules – balancing work, home and everything in between. It’s important to remember that intimacy won’t look after itself – nothing else in life does.  

Don’t measure your sex life solely by having sex. It’s also about feeling desire, connecting moments that build sexual charge between you, and physical contact – not always sexual – at times other than as a pre-cursor to sex.  

Many couples go through phases where they are having less regular sex, but they still feel that their sexual connection is strong. This is due to all the other factors which play a role in that intimate relationship.  

5. Embrace change 

How we consider sex is changing and couples in long-distance relationships report having high levels of sexual satisfaction because sex is more expansive for them than a particular act. The use of technology, either as an assistant or vehicle to sexual experiences, changes how they look, but for many it adds a different element to how they feel.

As we see with LELO’s report, people are adapting their sex lives to work with busy lifestyles, which make finding time more challenging, and these adaptations are a positive thing. Sex lives are adaptable, rather than being fixed or limited, allowing people to fit intimacy into their lives in whatever way works best for them.  

Most importantly, whatever the type of sex or how people are having sex, it works for them. Everything else in life is changing, so why wouldn’t our sex lives evolve too?