Tag: Presenteeism

Studies show that **presenteeism**—being at work while sick—can cost companies more in lost productivity than taking a sick day. Deciding if it's smart to go to work with a cold involves weighing your personal recovery against the health of your colleagues and your own overall effectiveness.

According to a 2023 survey, nearly 90% of US employees admitted to working while sick, a phenomenon known as presenteeism. When your head is stuffed up, and you're feeling unwell, knowing whether you should work with congestion or take a sick day is a common but crucial health decision.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, full-time civilian workers with a fixed number of days typically have access to an average of 8 paid sick days per year. Navigating personal health needs and professional expectations can make it challenging to understand how much sick time is normal in a year.

According to a study cited by Sharp HealthCare, a sick employee can spread their germs to up to 60% of commonly touched surfaces in the workplace in just four hours. Faced with a cough or a fever, the choice of 'should you go to work or stay home sick?' is a decision that impacts not just you, but everyone around you.

According to a 2025 study from the Harvard Business Review, employees working while ill, a practice known as 'presenteeism,' costs U.S. businesses up to $150 billion annually due to reduced productivity. For your own health, it's crucial to understand what's the worst thing to do when sick so you can recover faster and prevent complications.

According to one study, a single sick employee can spread germs to up to 60% of commonly touched surfaces in the workplace in just four hours. Deciding, “Should I go to work with a 100 fever?” is a question many face, but for the sake of public health and your own recovery, the answer from health experts is a clear no.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual absence rate was 2.1% in 2023, but this doesn't tell the whole story. Determining what is an acceptable level of sickness is a complex decision that involves personal judgment, public health considerations, and ethical responsibility.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, American civilian workers with a fixed sick leave plan have access to an average of 8 sick days annually. Yet, numerous surveys show workers take far fewer, raising questions about what is the average sick day taken per year and why this gap exists.

According to a 2023 study published in the *International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health*, teachers are significantly more likely than nurses to attend work while sick. So, while nurses face constant exposure to pathogens, it's the differences in work culture and health pressures that help answer whether teachers or nurses get sick more.