Far too many Americans go to work sick, including in jobs that are supposed to demand top-notch hygiene, such as food preparation.
A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology that analyzed 61 prior studies involving over 175,000 people found, unsurprisingly, that employees in high-pressure jobs are more likely to work sick. Showing up despite an illness, or "presenteeism," is linked to strict policies that seek to reduce absenteeism.
Companies that don't offer employees generous paid sick leave or that demand that workers present doctor's notes to be credited with sick time, are more likely to have ailing employees on the job. In fact, requiring a doctor's note may undermine other policies that encourage workers to take time off when ill.
Recommended For You
Low-wage workers are the least likely to have access to paid sick days, and they're the least likely to take an unpaid day off to care for themselves. Many simply can't afford the lost wages.
But high-level jobs with heavy workloads and tight deadlines also deal regularly with sick employees who, rightly or wrongly, believe their job is at risk if they don't show up and get the work done.
However, it's not just workers who feel pressure from their bosses that are showing up with the sniffles. The study also found that workers with positive attitudes toward their jobs, including high levels of job satisfaction and engagement, are more likely to work sick. When people really love their jobs, getting sick might not stop them from working.
Supriya Kumar, a public health expert at the University of Pittsburgh, told Reuters that corporate leaders should recognize that encouraging employees who come down with a contagious illness to take days off or at least work from home can benefit their business.
"When people stay home when sick with a contagious disease like influenza, they actually reduce the likelihood of future illness among co-workers and thus reduce absenteeism in the workplace," he said.
The study was authored by Gary Johns and Mariella Miraglia, of Concordia University in Montreal and the University of East Anglia in the U.K., respectively.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
