Fewer sick days don’t necessarily mean greater productivity or healthier employees. According to one report, in fact, two-thirds of 5,000 workers surveyed said that feel pressure to work when they’re ill; and 39% reported that they are more likely than ever to work when they’re sick. About a quarter indicated that sick days are disappearing completely.
Other data also suggests some problems with sick days. In a survey of 2,800 workers:
- A third said they always go to work when they’re sick.
- 54% said they still show up to work when they are ill because they have too much to do.
- 40% said they don’t wan to use their sick leave.
In yet another survey, one in five workers said they continued to report to work while sick during the pandemic.
Some experts suggest fear is beyond workers’ hesitancy to use sick leave. They worry about having enough sick days to cover them if they get a serious illness. As a result, they brush off a stomach bug or cold so they can sock away more time off in case they get COVID or some other condition.
While employees may be taking less sick leave, experts also suggest, this doesn’t mean they are mentally and physically healthy. At the same time, any boost in productivity is likely to be temporary if workers aren’t getting the health care and rest they need.
