A recent analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that the cost of presenteeism, where people work through sickness, grew by £25bn in the UK last year compared to 2018. The UK consistently ranks high for presenteeism among European nations, with insecure work being a major cause.
Experts point to factors such as workload pressure, management culture, and the desire not to create extra work for colleagues as reasons why people choose to work when they are unwell. Additionally, the rise in ill health, especially mental health issues, is also contributing to the increase in presenteeism.
Despite the protocols put in place during the pandemic encouraging people to stay home if they are unwell, experts say there has been no lasting culture change. Many employers are trying to return to the old way of working, abandoning hybrid and flexible working arrangements adopted during the pandemic.
However, there is room for optimism as younger workers are less likely to tolerate a culture that demands presenteeism. The IPPR report found that those with lower education levels, income, less skilled occupations, and minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to work through sickness.
Experts believe that removing barriers to claiming statutory sick pay, as proposed by Labour, could actually reduce presenteeism by allowing workers to take necessary time off to recover. Overall, there is a need for a shift in workplace culture to prioritize employee health and well-being over presenteeism.
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