British workers ‘too scared’ to take sick days
New research reveals that presenteeism is rife in the UK, with 93 per cent still clocking on when ill, hrmagazine.co.uk reports.
Employers are being urged to operate a balanced sickness absence policy, one which does not discourage or penalise individuals from taking the occasional day off to recover from an illness.
The message is especially pertinent given a report from Canada Life, which shows that only seven per cent of workers feel comfortable enough to take a sick day when necessary.
A third of those polled by the insurer said that they refused a sick day because their workload wouldn’t allow time off, 19 per cent said they were made to feel guilty by colleagues for staying at home, while 13 per cent thought their job security might be compromised if they took a day off.
A further 36 per cent of employees would prefer to take a day’s holiday rather than be recorded as sick.
The findings highlight the importance of creating a culture which supports work-life balance and does not promote presenteeism, which can adversely lead to stress and further illness. What’s more, colleagues can catch contagious illnesses, increasing absence levels.
Work-life balance, on the other hand, promotes a healthy, happy and productive workforce – something that those in franchise services should embrace.
Speaking to employeebenefits.co.uk about the report, Canada Life marketing director Paul Avis, said: “Employers need to do more to make their stance on sickness clear…there is still some way to go in communicating the different options available to staff should they become unwell for an extended period.”