IN 2005, A SURVEY FOUND 77 percent of workers went to work while sick, for reasons that ranged from fear of taking time off to saving sick days for when children were ill. The same ComPsych poll conducted in 2007 found that the number of workers that showed up for work sick rose to 83 percent.
When asked if they worked while sick, here is how employees responded:
- 17 percent: No, I put my health first.
- 37 percent: Yes, because my workload makes it too difficult to take off.
- 25 percent: Yes, because it feels "risky" to take off in the current work environment.
- 21 percent: Yes, because I save my sick days for when my kids need me.
"Employees are pushing the limits of their health and showing up to work at all costs," says Dr. Richard Chaifetz, ComPsych's chairman and CEO. "This trend is driven in part by an uncertain economy and the significant debt loads taken on by workers in the last two years. More than ever, employees feel the need to be present and show effort on the job."
Employees from 1,000 ComPsych clients worldwide took part in the survey.
