Do you feel guilty when calling in sick at work? This might be why...
You wake up feeling unwell but there's a big day at work ahead. What do you do? If the answer is to go in (or log on), you're not alone.
Research suggests anywhere between a third to a half of people in the UK work even when sick — something experts call presenteeism. And your approach to sickness says a lot about you as an individual and where you work.
Younger Workers vs. Older Workers
"The younger generation get the snowflake tag thrown at them, but it's not true," says University of Manchester psychologist Prof Sir Cary Cooper, who is one of the world's leading experts on workplace wellbeing.
Data from the Office for National Statistics supports this view. Workers aged 16 to 24 took an average of 2.4 days off sick last year, compared to 6.2 days for those aged 50 to 64.
Sir Cary, who has advised the UK government on employment policies in this area, says there are several reasons for this:
- Younger workers are more likely to work in roles where there is little security, such as zero-hours contracts.
- They are also less likely to suffer from long-term health conditions and joint problems that are major contributors to sickness absence.
Factors Influencing Sickness Absence
There are a variety of factors that influence someone's approach to sickness absence:
- Work Centrality: For some, work is closely tied to identity. Occupational psychologists call this work centrality — and research links this to greater engagement, commitment, and willingness to go the extra mile. If work is central to who you are, being absent can feel like temporarily losing part of yourself.
- Fear of Being Seen as Weak: Others fear being seen as weak or lazy. Younger workers are particularly susceptible to this, says psychologist Dr Audrey Tang. "They're more likely to be early in their profession and they might not want to risk being perceived as unable to handle their responsibilities."
Ultimately, understanding these motivations can help promote a healthier work environment and better employee wellbeing.