7 in 10 Employees Go to Work Sick: Survey

As the flu season gets worse here in San Diego, just how sick is too sick to go to work?

There comes a time when most people make the choice to go to work, despite feeling sick.

As the flu season gets worse here in San Diego, just how sick is too sick to go to work?

In a new OfficeTeam survey, seven in 10 or 70-percent of professionals admit they frequently go to work when they're feeling sick.

And apparently their managers are aware.

Sixty-five percent said of managers said ailing employees head into the office at least somewhat frequently.

A workplace expert we talked to at San Diego State University says employees come to work sick for several reasons.

Some jobs don't provide paid sick days.

Even those with sick benefits choose to go in because they don't want to deal with all the work that piles up from a day spent on the couch.

Still, some employees don't want to appear lazy to their bosses.

β€œThe recession and just where the economy is, as it's growing and trying to get back on its feet, people are really afraid that somebody else is going to come along who doesn't mind and can take that hit and come to work sick and say no big deal. I'll take some medicine, no problem,” said Tita Gray, San Diego State University Lecturer, College of Business.

Gray said workers should be proactive and approach supervisors about how they can work from home, if possible.

She also believes managers need to set a culture of understanding that sick days are inevitable.
 

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