Increase in sick days might be symptom of a bigger social problem

Taking a sick day might be going viral, though the enthusiasm for taking a day off is not spreading to all bosses.

Workers once viewed their unwillingness to cut into sick leave entitlements as a badge of honour.

This badge of honour holds much less allure for the modern-day worker, with some bosses reporting the number of sick days taken annually by employees is on a steep rise.

Why are employee sick days increasing?

The minimum sick — or personal — leave entitlement of 10 days per annum accrues year on year and is not paid out or compensated for when an employee resigns.

The increase in its use might be attributed to the fact that the pandemic has left many with a new-found appreciation of the need to stay away from the workplace when unwell and knowingly contagious.

It might also be because if we don’t stay away from our own volition others might “sick shame” us into staying home.

They might suggest “You seem a bit under the weather; perhaps it’s best to take the rest of the day off” even if the unspoken sentiment is more along the lines of “a considerate individual would have stayed home”.

A disgruntled colleague might even toss tissue boxes our way or pointedly spray disinfectant around the workplace, especially in our vicinity.

The rising focus on mental health 

Yet it is not just physical illness that is causing a rise in the number of sick days.

Many seem to have embraced a more expansive view of the sick day that acknowledges mental wellbeing (think: “mental health day”) along with personal rejuvenation and relaxation as valid reasons for taking time off.

The sick day is also increasingly being deployed to counter the trials and tribulations of everyday life including the need to recover from jetlag following a trip overseas, the death of a beloved pet or a fallout with a family member or close friend.

And it is becoming obvious that some of us treat our sick days as an added bonus to holiday leave entitlements.

The occasional “sickie” — feigning illness for a day of relaxation — is not a new concept.

What is new is the attitude that one should use up all of their available sick leave entitlements to avoid losing them.

Addressing the underlying issue

While some bosses have embraced a more inclusive definition of the sick day to accommodate the ups and downs of our working and personal lives, others are less enamoured with what they describe as a growing contingent of workers who are more sick of work than sick themselves.

Both points of view miss the fact any rise in sick days is a barometer for something not being quite right in our workplaces — or in society more generally.

Achieving a clearer picture of what is driving the trend will require those in charge of our workplaces to delve deeper into the underlying reasons that might explain why more of their employees are choosing to stay home.

Armed with that understanding we will be able to better support individuals and curb increasing rates of sick leave, and in doing so achieve better results for employees, our organisations and the wider community.