Recession forces sick into work
Friday, 13 February 2009 12:01 AM
By politics.co.uk
The recession is making Britons more likely to go to work when ill, a survey has revealed.
One third of workers said the gloomy economic climate increased their chances of going into the office despite feeling unwell.
Thirteen per cent said they could not afford to lose their pay while one in 20 said they were worried about potential action from bosses.
In total, 24 per cent of the country's workforce went to work in January despite thinking themselves too ill to do so.
A poll conducted by YouGov for the TUC said 28 per cent of those who braved the commute and day in the office despite feeling unwell did so "because they didn't want to let [their colleagues] down"
"Too often we are told that British workers are always taking bogus sickies or taking time off at the first sign of a sniffle," said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.
"But the truth is that we are a nation of mucus-troopers who struggle into work even when we are too ill because we do not want to let colleagues, clients or our employer down.
"While this is admirable, it is not always the best thing to do. Coughs and sneezes still spread diseases, and the worst thing you can do to your workmates is pass on your illness."
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