Too much work, employer pressure cited as reasons: survey
A strong majority (89 per cent) of professionals in Canada admit they've sometimes come to the office with cold or flu symptoms.
Of those, 27 per cent always go to work when they're under the weather, while 62 per cent sometimes do, found a survey by staffing firm Accountemps.
More than half of those who report to the office with the cold or flu (54 per cent) do so because they have too much work to do; another 33 per cent don't want to use a sick day, found the survey of 510 workers.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) cite pressure from the employer to be present, while 18 per cent say it’s because co-workers come to work sick.
"Workers often worry about falling behind by taking a sick day, but that mentality may be doing more harm than good," said Koula Vasilopoulos, district president at Accountemps, a division of Robert Half. "A healthy workplace is a happier and, ultimately, more productive, environment. Taking the time to stay home and get better is not only good for your own wellbeing, it also shows consideration for your colleagues, your quality of work, and the overall success of your team."
"It's up to managers set the example by steering clear of the office when under the weather, and ensuring their teams follow suit," she says. "Maintain open lines of communication to better recognize when employees are ill and provide solutions for managing sick days ― like remote work options or bringing in temporary help ― so workers feel supported and encouraged to get healthy."
