Industry news
30% 'turn up for work when ill'
Posted Thu, 19 Jan 2012
A report has warned that the high number of people who still go into work when they are ill is "bad for business" and costs billions of pounds a year for British industry.
Almost one in three (30%) UK workers turn up at work when they are ill, primarily motivated by the fear of losing their job during the economic crisis, according to the charity Nuffield Health.
Retail staff aged between 16 and 24 were found to be most likely to ignore illness and carry on, but risked spreading anything contagious to colleagues, the report claimed.
Nuffield Health Managing Director Marcus Powell said: "Employees going into work sick costs business dearly - up to £15 billion a year. Our research shows the economic downturn has made people more likely to go into work sick often because they fear losing their job.
"This is bad for business. The corporate world knows that staff wellbeing directly affects their profits. That is why more and more businesses are providing good clinical and fitness experts for their workers."
Copyright Press Association 2012