Feeling guilty about taking a sick day from work may be more common than many employees realise. Research suggests that around one-third to half of workers in the UK continue working while unwell, a behaviour known as presenteeism.
Experts say attitudes towards sickness absence can be influenced by both individual beliefs and workplace culture.
Psychologists say people who strongly identify with their jobs may find it particularly difficult to stay away from work. This is sometimes described as work centrality, where a person’s job becomes closely connected to their sense of identity.
Employees may also worry that taking time off will make them appear unreliable, weak or less committed. Such concerns can be particularly relevant for people early in their careers who are trying to establish themselves professionally.
Workers in caring professions, including medicine, nursing and teaching, may also feel a strong responsibility to continue working despite illness.
Workplace culture can increase guilt
The environment in which people work can also influence their decisions. When teams are understaffed or there is little cover, employees may worry that their absence will increase colleagues’ workloads.
Psychologists say workplaces that place productivity above health can create a culture in which employees feel pressure to work through illness. If managers regularly praise staff for doing so, presenteeism can become normalised.
Taking time off when genuinely unwell can therefore involve more than an individual decision. Expectations, job identity and workplace practices can all shape how employees respond to illness.