New research from Monster.co.uk has revealed that half of Brits (49%) have never called in sick to work, with only a quarter (27%) admitting to having taken just one day off in their current job or most recent job. This follows a warning by MPs earlier this year that employees are under increasing pressure not to take sick leave when they’re ill.
Andy Sumner, Managing Director for Monster UK and Ireland, commented; “It’s vitally important that employers understand their employees’ wellbeing. Statistics suggest that the number of sick days taken by UK workers continues to fall, yet workloads and working hours are increasing.”
“Job insecurity continues to be a major issue, and employers should do more to communicate with their staff that taking sick leave will not put their position in jeopardy. The fact is that when people are sick and still turn up for work, productivity and efficiency levels drop dramatically. So it’s of benefit to both the employee and employer for workers to be honest about their health.”
Monster poll results
In your current or most recent job, on average how many times a year have you called in sick to avoid being at work? |
% of votes |
# of votes |
|
Once |
27% |
142 |
|
Two to three times |
14% |
73 |
|
Four to five times |
5% |
26 |
|
Six to ten times |
3% | 12 |
|
More than ten times |
2% | 12 |
|
Never |
49% | 252 |
Total: |
100% |
517 |