The stiff upper lip lives on – half of Brits never call in sick for work, says survey

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New research from Monster.co.uk has revealed that half of Brits (49 percent) have never called in sick to work, with only a quarter (27 percent) admitting to having taken just one day off in their current job or most recent job. This follows a warning by MPs earlier this year that employees are under increasing pressure not to take sick leave when they’re ill.

“It’s vitally important that employers understand their employees’ wellbeing. Statistics suggest that the number of sick days taken by UK workers continues to fall, yet workloads and working hours are increasing,” commented Andy Sumner, managing director for Monster UK and Ireland.

“Job insecurity continues to be a major issue, and employers should do more to communicate with their staff that taking sick leave will not put their position in jeopardy. The fact is that when people are sick and still turn up for work, productivity and efficiency levels drop dramatically. So it’s of benefit to both the employee and employer for workers to be honest about their health.”

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Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.

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