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British workers push through summer illness, risking health
20 Aug
Summary
- Nearly half of British employees worked while sick this summer.
- Many cited excessive workload and fear of lost pay as reasons.
- Working through illness led to decreased productivity and focus.
This past summer, almost half of British employees continued working despite feeling unwell, with many citing excessive workloads and fear of lost pay as primary reasons. This tendency to 'power through' illness, lasting an average of six days, unfortunately led to reduced productivity and difficulty concentrating for a significant portion of these workers.
NHS GP Dr. Reem Hasan highlighted that prioritizing work over health is counterproductive and recovery should be treated as a priority, not a guilt-inducing act. This situation mirrors concerns raised by the Royal College of Nursing, where members reported collapsing from heat while caring for patients in temperatures exceeding 30C.
Beyond the immediate impact on work, the survey revealed that 45% experienced sleep trouble, a third struggled with stress or anxiety, and many delayed health appointments due to being too busy with work. As autumn approaches, many worry about entering the season feeling run down and burnt out.
