You wake up this morning not feeling well, but it's a busy day at work.
What would you do? If the answer is to go to work (or log into your work system) as usual, you're not alone.
Research shows that between a third and half of people in the UK still go to work even if they are sick. Experts call this phenomenon "presenteeism" (deliberate overtime/presenteeism).
And your attitude towards illness reflects a lot about your personal characteristics and workplace culture.
Young people take less sick days?
“Younger generations are often labeled ‘snowflake’, but that’s not true,” says Professor Sir Cary Cooper, professor of psychology at the University of Manchester and one of the UK’s leading experts on workplace well-being.
Data from the UK Office for National Statistics also supports this view.
Last year, workers aged 16 to 24 took an average of 2.4 sick days, compared with 6.2 days for workers aged 50 to 64.
Professor Sir Cooper has advised the UK Government on employment policy in this area. There are several reasons for the difference, he said.
Young people are more likely to work in positions with lower job security, such as "zero-hours contracts" (i.e., employers do not have to guarantee that employees on such contracts will be assigned a job, and may be scheduled to work three days this week and have no work, that is, no income, the next week).
In addition, they are less likely to suffer from long-term health problems and joint problems, which are important causes of sick absence.
But Sir Cooper added: "I think the younger generation do have higher expectations of how their employers should treat them and how their physical and mental health should be looked after."
"The older generation may be more willing to accept the changes, but this approach may not be healthy."
“When it comes to taking time off, younger workers seem more willing to view mental health as part of their overall health, rather than something they should just push through.”
How to reflect personality traits?
There are many factors that influence a person's attitude towards sick leave.
For some people, work is closely tied to their identity, something occupational psychologists call "work centrality." Research shows this is linked to higher levels of commitment, responsibility, and a willingness to go the extra mile.
If work is central to your identity, missing work may make you feel like you've temporarily lost a part of yourself.
"These people have a strong desire to continue to show up at work," says Dr Audrey Tang, a psychologist who writes about workplace health and wellness.
She said people working in caring professions such as medicine, nursing and education are particularly prone to this tendency.
"They often say they would rather get injured in an accident and get a reason not to go to work than simply take a day off."
Others fear being seen as weak or lazy. Audrey Tang said younger workers are particularly susceptible to this mentality.
"They're more likely to be in the early stages of their careers and don't want to leave a negative impression."
How to reflect workplace culture?
Psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo said workplace culture and ethos can have a big impact on whether people are willing to take sick leave.
When teams are short-staffed and lack replacements, employees know that their absence will increase the workload of their colleagues.
"Guilt and shame play a particularly significant role in a toxic organization that prioritizes productivity over health and well-being," Quinn-Cirillo said.
“Some workplaces have a ‘carry-on’ culture that encourages employees to continue to carry on even if they need a break.”
This type of culture will reward "working while sick" in disguise. Employees will feel that they will be valued if they insist on going to work regardless of their physical condition; and once management praises employees who work while sick, other employees will quickly sense this message.
"In a healthy work environment, employees should be able to talk openly and honestly about their physical and mental health and about calling in sick," Quinn-Cirillo said.
Trust is equally important. If an employee's absences are frequently questioned or viewed negatively, employees may be reluctant to take time off when they really need it for fear of being judged.
Quinn-Cirillo said this was a "very big warning sign."
How do you know if you are too sick to go to work?
It's not always easy to tell whether you are too sick to work.
When it comes to physical illness, Audrey Tang says there are some pretty clear basic principles.
"If you have vomiting and diarrhea, or you have a fever, you should stay home for 48 hours and 24 hours respectively after symptoms subside. Under these circumstances, you are basically unable to work effectively."
Beyond that, judgment becomes more complicated.
"The murky area is around coughs and colds," says Audrey Tang. "Workplace etiquette has changed since COVID-19, and it's now generally considered polite to work from home."
But she says one thing is absolutely necessary: mental health should be treated the same as physical health.
