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Widespread presenteeism among UK workforce

Published on: 16 Jul 2024

More than three quarters of UK adults have worked while ill, according to a poll that reveals widespread presenteeism in the workplace.

Widespread presenteeism among UK workforce

A survey of 1,437 employees by health screening firm Bluecrest Wellness found that 76% had worked while ill during the previous year. The most common reason for working while ill was a desire not to let their team down, cited by 48%, followed by financial necessity, reported by 38%.

 

Nearly 20% said they felt pressured by their employer to work when ill. Among those who had, 44% said it had slowed their rehabilitation, while 23% reported that it had had a detrimental effect on their mental health.

 

Women were more likely to work while ill, with 37% having done so frequently in the previous year, compared to 24% of men.

 

Many workers are ill but have difficulty accessing primary care: 55% of respondents had felt exhausted during the past three months, but more than half had been hesitant to schedule a GP consultation. The most common reasons for this were difficulties scheduling an appointment, cited by 40%, not feeling sick enough, reported by 20%, and not wanting to disturb the NHS, cited by 18%.

 

Bluecrest Wellness chief medical officer Martin Thornton said it was “worrying” that “opportunities to prevent and detect the early stages of chronic diseases in the community are beginning to be routinely missed”.

 

He added: “We know that many of these can start with very vague symptoms.”