03 Feb 84% of East Anglia residents go to work when sick, buckling to pressure from employers
From the common cold to emotional burnout, new research from People HR has found that residents from East Anglia are reluctant to call in sick, many because they’re afraid of their boss and office backlash.
More than three quarters (84%) of residents have forced themselves to go in to work whilst feeling under the weather, with more than one in ten (15%) experiencing judgment from colleagues and nearly a fifth (18%) due to pressure from their boss.
Feeling obliged to come in to work despite illness, more than two thirds (64%) have still gone to work when suffering from a cold or flu and almost a quarter (24%) when suffering from stress, or an emotional crisis. Perhaps this is due to a third (33%) feeling their boss did not believe they were genuinely ill when they have previously taken a sick day.
For those who are brave enough to bite the bullet and call in unwell, two thirds (66%) said they feel guilty for taking time off work due to illness, or health related issues. This could explain why so many are reluctant to speak to their employer about their health and wellbeing.
Nearly a fifth (19%) admitted they are too scared to talk to their boss about needing time off for a health-related issue, whilst over three quarters (78%) say there are times their current employer does not do enough to look after their physical and mental wellbeing.
