Employees suffering from a migraine might want to think up a better excuse when phoning in sick from work, as just one in five bosses consider the headache serious enough to warrant a day off. Back pain, injury caused by accident and even elective surgery such as a cataract operation or hip replacement fail to arouse sympathy out of managers, with only 37% considering these ailments adequate excuses for missing work.The medical insurance provider AXA PPP Healthcare surveyed 1000 business owners, managing directors and chief executives about their attitudes towards employees' sick leave.The research found that flu is the most acceptable excuse for an employee to stay at home, even though the ailment only won the sympathy of 41% of bosses.The survey also found that only 12% of employees would lie about having a migraine.AXA PPP Healthcare director Glen Parkinson said: "Employers need to challenge this blinkered attitude, both for their own benefit as well as that of their employees."In many cases it is more productive for an employee to take a day off to recover from a spell of illness rather than to come into work, with diminished productivity and the potential to spread their illness to workmates."Showing sympathy and flexibility is crucial to maintaining a healthy and committed workforce, and creates a healthier business."..