the new Craig David song?

I don't think skiving is that different from stealing tbh.
I've never done it, never even thought about it. If I needed time off I asked my bosses and they've never had problems with letting me go if it was a reasonable request.

I guess I am valued wherever I work so people do try to help me when I ask.
If they didn't I wouldn't be working for them, simple as that.

Yes but many people do a lot of unpaid overtime and so feel that they have earned an extra day off, whether they are justified or not.

Yep, there's always a medic on board. If you're feeling ill they hand out whatever you need. You have to be seriously ill to be let off work and sent home.

When I've been offshore people who were ill were given light duties where possible, no skiving. Only one instance of evacuation when someone had their brow opened up by a grapple.

Last time I had time off for sickness was in my first job. If I looked ill my mum would send me back to bed and phone work to tell them I wasn't coming in, and I would have to stay all day in bed, no complaining!

That being said, in my current job there have been days when I've asked if I can come in a couple of hour late and make the time up later so that I can spend some extra time getting myself together when I've been feeling particularly groggy.

Last time I was off sick was in January, and I spent a week in bed - it was probably ’flu. Being self-employed, I had to keep an eye on email, and re-arrange meetings for a time when I was feeling better. No one around to do that for me.