83% of Workers Bring Their Colds with them to Work

A ComPsych news release said when it asked the question in a 2005 survey, 77% of workers reported going to work while sick. According to the announcement when asked whether they have dragged themselves off of a sick bed to get to the office, 17% said no in the latest survey – down from 23% in the 2005 poll.

Some 37% in the latest poll said they went to work sick because their heavy workload makes it easier to go to work, up from 34% in 2005. A quarter of respondents said they worked sick “because it feels risky to take off in the current work environment,” down a tick from the 26% who gave that response in 2005.

Finally, just over one in five (21%) respondents said they work sick so they will have available sick time when their children are ill, up from 17% in the earlier survey.

“Employees are pushing the limits of their health and showing up to work at all costs,” said Richard A. Chaifetz, chairman and CEO of ComPsych, in the release. “This trend is driven in part by an uncertain economy and the significant debt loads taken on by workers in the last two years. More than ever, employees feel the need to be present and show effort on the job.”

The Tell It Now survey was conducted from November 12 to December 11, 2007, receiving responses from the employees of 1,000 ComPsych client companies nationwide.

More information is at www.compsych.com .