Study Reveals People Feel Pressured To Work While Sick, But Why?
The reality is that many people continue to work while they are sick. You have workers who use their sick days without hesitation and those who feel guilty when even considering taking a sick day. Think about how many times you heard someone coughing while walking down the hallway, sneezing in the middle of the meeting, or loudly blowing their nose three feet away from you.
According to a 2019 report from Robert Half Direct, an online platform that allows hiring managers to control the hiring process, 57% of employees sometimes go to work while sick, and 33% always go to work while sick, which means that as many as 90% of workers go to work while under the weather.
Work while sick.
In a more recent study, they found that the average American spends about 84 hours a year working while under the weather. The survey of 2,000 conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Nectar Allergy, looked at the effect of both colds and allergies on work, as well as Americans’ social lives and their wallets.
Also, revealed by the study is that the average person works ten and a half days per year while feeling under the weather, on average. About 47% admit they’d rather “power through” than take a sick day. For some, they may be more inclined to “power through,” as they’re worried others may think they’re “dramatic” when they’re feeling unwell (34%).
Have you ever heard someone make a negative comment about one of your coworkers being sick? Well, 48% of those surveyed remember a negative comment someone else made about how frequently they feel unwell, either due to allergies or other conditions and illnesses, and over a quarter of those surveyed (26%) said in their friend group or family, they feel like they’re the person who is most often sick or feeling unwell.
A sick day for work versus skipping an event due to illness.
The study shows that in an average year, respondents miss 17 social events because they feel unwell. While a cold, the flu, or other sickness (40%) was the biggest cause of respondents missing out on social events, allergies (33%) also played a role for a third of respondents. In fact, half of all respondents (49%) suffer from yearlong or seasonal airborne allergies.
“It’s disheartening to see how much pressure people feel to work while sick,” said Kenneth Chahine, Ph.D., chief executive officer and co-founder of Nectar Allergy. “According to the study, over half of people with allergies (54%) said they’re worried about not being able to tell the difference between allergy symptoms and a contagious cold,” he added.
So why are we pressured to cave into working while sick?
SUCCESS, a personal and professional development guide says that it all comes down to fear of job insecurity and blurred boundaries between work and personal life. “Employees feel more obligated to work now they are at home, so they work longer hours and employers allow it,” they said.
Some Redditors said they choose to go to work sick because their sick days are bundled with their PTO. Others mentioned that it costs more to be sick because they straight up don’t get paid sick days.
Take a look at some more insights from the survey here.
5 Surprising Symptoms People Ignore Most When They're Sick
Cold sweats or Chills
Chills and cold sweats can be uncomfortable. Chills feel like a sudden wave of cold running through your body, making you shiver. Cold sweats, on the other hand, are when you start sweating but your skin feels cold and damp instead of warm. Some people may not immediately associate these symptoms with something serious. They might attribute them to temporary factors such as being in a cold environment or wearing too many layers of clothing. People may underestimate the significance of cold sweats or chills, especially if they are not accompanied by other noticeable symptoms. They may assume it’s just a passing discomfort that doesn’t require medical attention.
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Fever
When you have a fever, your body temperature rises above its normal range, which is typically around 98.6°F (37°C). Fevers can vary in severity and may range from mild to high-grade, depending on the underlying cause. Sometimes, people ignore a fever for a few reasons. They might think it’s just a common cold or flu and believe it’ll go away on its own. It’s important to remember that a fever can be a sign that the body is fighting an infection or an underlying health condition.
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Body Aches
When you experience body aches, you may feel soreness, tenderness, or a general sense of discomfort in your muscles, joints, or other areas. People may dismiss body aches because they may think it’s just a normal part of everyday life and not something to be concerned about. Some may believe their body aches are due to factors like physical exertion, tiredness, or overexertion during exercise. Also, if someone has experienced them before and they have resolved on their own.
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Green Mucus
Some people may believe that the color of mucus is not a reliable indicator of an illness. While green mucus can be associated with certain infections or respiratory conditions, it’s not always a definite sign of a serious problem. People may assume that it’s normal and will resolve on its own.
Drazen Zigic/ Getty Images
Serious Cough
This kind of cough can disrupt your daily life, mess with your sleep, and leave you feeling exhausted. People ignore serious coughs for a few reasons. Some think it’ll go away on its own or believe it’s just a minor issue like a cold or allergies. Others worry about the cost or hassle of going to the doctor. There’s also the fear of getting a serious diagnosis that can make people hesitant to seek help.
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