Do you feel guilty when calling in sick at work? This might be why…As many as half of people report working when sick. The reasons for this are complex, experts say.12 hrs ago

You wake up feeling unwell but there’s a big day at work ahead.

What do you do? If the answer is to go in (or log on), you’re not alone.

Research suggests anywhere between a third to a half of people in the UK work even when sick – something experts call presenteeism.

And your approach to sickness says a lot about you as an individual and where you work.

“The younger generation get the snowflake tag thrown at them, but it’s not true,” says University of Manchester psychologist Prof Sir Cary Cooper, who is one of the world’s leading experts on workplace wellbeing.

Data from the Office for National Statistics supports this view.

Workers aged 16 to 24 took an average of 2.4 days off sick last year, compared to 6.2 days for those aged 50 to 64.

Sir Cary, who has advised the UK government on employment policies in this area, says there are several reasons for this.

Younger workers are more likely to work in roles where there is little security, such as zero-hours contracts.

They are also less likely to suffer from long-term health conditions and joint problems that are major contributors to sickness absence.

But Sir Cary adds: “I think younger generations do have higher expectations about how employers should treat them and consider their wellbeing.

“Older generations have perhaps been more willing to put up with things, but that doesn’t necessarily make that approach healthy.

“When it comes to taking time off, younger workers seem more willing to view mental wellbeing as part of their overall health rather than something that should simply be pushed through.”

There are a variety of factors that influence someone’s approach to sickness absence.

For some, work is closely tied to identity. Occupational psychologists call this work centrality – and research links this to greater engagement, commitment and willingness to go the extra mile.

If work is central to who you are, being absent can feel like temporarily losing part of yourself.

“These people feel a strong desire to keep showing up,” says Dr Audrey Tang, a psychologist who writes about workplace wellbeing.

She says those working in caring professions such as medicine, nursing and teaching have a particular tendency towards this.

“They often report they would rather have a physical accident to have a reason not to show up than just take the day off.”

Others fear being seen as weak or lazy. Younger workers are particularly susceptible to this, says Tang.

“They’re more likely to be early in their profession and they don’t want to leave a negative impression.”

Workplace culture and behaviour can have a significant influence on people’s willingness to take time off sick, says psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo.

When teams are stretched and there is little or no cover, employees know their absence will increase the workload for colleagues.

“The role of guilt and shame is significant in a toxic organisation that prioritises productivity over health and wellbeing,” says Quinn-Cirillo.

“There is a ‘carry-on’ culture in some workplaces that encourages people to keep going when they should be resting.”

Such cultures reward presenteeism. Employees feel valued for turning up regardless of how they are feeling and staff quickly absorb the message if managers praise people for working through illness.

“In a healthy work environment, people should be able to have open and honest conversations about wellbeing and sick days,” says Quinn-Cirillo.

Trust also matters. If absence is routinely questioned or viewed negatively, workers can become reluctant to take legitimate time off for fear of being judged.

That, says Quinn-Cirillo, is a “huge red flag”.

Deciding whether you are too sick to work is not always straightforward.

For physical illness, Tang says there are some well-established rules of thumb.

“If you’re vomiting and have diarrhoea or have a fever, you should stay at home for 48 hours and 24 hours respectively after the symptoms have passed. In those situations, you’re unlikely to be able to work effectively anyway.”

Beyond that, the decision becomes more nuanced, according to Tang.

“Where there is more of a grey area is with coughs and colds. Since Covid, workplace etiquette has changed – generally it’s considered polite to work from home.”

But she says an absolute must is that mental health should be treated no differently than physical health.

“If you’re sick and unable to work, you’re sick and unable to work.”

Quinn-Cirillo adds: “Ultimately it’s about capacity to do a job, whether it be physical or mental health.”

A further warning sign is when work starts affecting basic self-care, she says.

“Is your ability to look after yourself changing? Are you able to decompress from work? Is your sleep OK?”

If the answer is no, it may be a sign that rest is exactly what is needed.