Hawke’s Brewing will launch a summer activation celebrating one of Australia’s most cherished national pastimes — chucking a sickie. Hosted at The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre in Marrickville, Operation: Sickie invites guests to book a secluded table on one of six designated sick days over summer, with guests who provide text or email proof of their sickie scoring 49% of their food and drinks bill.
Hawke’s co-founder, Nathan Lennon, explains that Operation: Sickie will be a protective force behind guests using one of their ten legally-entitled sick days to enjoy some beer and leisure time. “Chucking the occasional sickie isn’t just our cultural right — it’s a more sustainable approach to work–life balance,” says Lennon.
“Whether it’s extending a long weekend, heading to the cricket, or spending the arvo at the pub with mates, every good sickie needs a strategy. You can’t get caught out. And that’s where we come in.”Guests who make a booking on one of the designated sick days will be offered a choice of tables, each with its own level of visibility — from “incognito” indoor tables to “zero-risk” private areas. Strict service measures will also be in place to ensure guests dine with confidence that their cover remains intact.
New national research confirms Australia’s love affair with the sickie is only growing. Finder’s 2025 study shows 47% of Australians openly admit to taking a sickie when they weren’t actually sick. Meanwhile, iSelect’s 2025 survey reveals a broader behavioural shift, with 71% of Aussies taking at least one day off in the past year due to feeling “physically, mentally or emotionally unwell”, highlighting how sick leave is increasingly used for wellbeing rather than physical illness. Compare the Market also ranks Australia #1 globally for Googling sickie-related excuses, and national absenteeism data shows Australians now take 11.1 sick days a year, with as many as 30% believed to be “not for genuine illness”. To dig into the excuses behind some of today’s sickies, Hawke’s tapped cultural commentator Deni Dictionary, whose followers shared some of their tried-and-tested standouts, including:
● “Fallen victim to a feisty Honey King Prawn”
● “Jury duty (never fails)”
● “Covid is time and tested. Guaranteed a few days off.”
● “Gotta take my fish to the vet.”
This data reinforces Hawke’s stance on sickies being a cornerstone of Aussie culture — a tradition long backed by the company’s co-founder, Bob Hawke, who famously declared an unofficial national holiday the day after Australia’s victory in the 1983 America’s Cup. As Hawke himself put it: “Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum.”
Hawke’s has earmarked six days across the Sydney summer, identified as the dates most likely to see “mysterious staff absences” across Sydney:
● Tuesday 9 December 2025 — Bob Hawke’s Birthday
● Friday 19 December 2025 — The Last Working Friday Before Christmas
● Monday 5 January 2026 — First Day of Work for the year & Day 2 at the SCG
● Friday 23 January 2026 — Long Weekend Extender #1
● Tuesday 27 January 2026 — Long Weekend Extender #2
● Monday 2 March 2026 — The Mardi Gras Recovery
For more information on Operation: Sickie, or to book a table, visit https://hawkesbrewing.com/pages/operation-sickie