Policy vs. Perception: Younger Workers Are Using Sick Days for Mental Health

Policy vs. Perception and the Impact on the Workforce

67% of American workers report showing up to work while visibly sick, with Gen Z especially impacted by workplace pressures and burnout.

This recent data builds on another of our recent reports, which highlights how outdated sick leave systems are failing to meet workers’ basic health needs. With many employees feeling pressure to work through illness, the long-term effects on both employee well-being and organizational health are becoming harder to ignore.

In most countries, taking a needed sick day or leave is fairly easy. However, in the U.S., without a federal guarantee for paid sick leave, taking time off could cost you your job. Unfortunately, this puts many people in the tough position of choosing between income and their health.

This recent study surveyed 1,000 American workers to uncover the real cost of calling in sick, especially among younger workers juggling mental health and financial stress.

Key takeaways

• 54% of Americans can’t afford to take a week off work
• 67% reported working while being sick in the past year
• 86% of Gen Z workers say stress or burnout has hurt their productivity or physical health, compared to just 36% of Baby Boomers.
• More than 20% of Gen Z admit to faking physical illness to take time off for mental health reasons.
• 52% of Gen Z have gone to work sick in the last 30 days.
• 41% of Gen Z fear being fired for taking sick leave
• Only 43% of U.S workers took more than two full sick days last year
• 59% feel judged by coworkers or supervisors after using time off.
• 1 in 3 report struggling with brain fog and insomnia from overworking
• 21% have panic or anxiety attacks from being overworked

Why Work While Being Sick?

Many people simply can’t afford to miss a day or two of work without struggling to meet some of their financial obligations and essential expenses. 26% of the respondents report struggling to afford groceries and bills, after only 1 or 2 missed days of work. 

It is not just finances that keep people going in while sick, either; 26% don’t want to have to deal with an overflowing inbox and piles of work to catch up on. Many respondents also report feeling negatively judged when returning to work after taking a sick day.

Not only that, but taking a legitimate sick day most often requires a doctor’s note, and this official documentation costs money. 1 in 4 have to pay these fees out of their pocket, on top of losing pay for the day. 

It gets worse, poor sick leave policies are causing frustration that is reshaping the workforce by driving resignations. 14% of the respondents said that they have had to quit or considered quitting due to inadequate sick leave. 

Does Mental Health Matter in the Workplace, or is it Hype?

According to this study, despite the corporate branding and widespread messaging about wellness, only 24% of the respondents feel supported in their workplaces, believing the language around mental health and time off is sincere. 

When it comes to taking a mental health day, most workers feel even more trapped than when it comes to taking a sick day. With 29% of the respondents reporting that they need one but don’t feel like they can take it. 39% reported taking one; however, only 10% felt comfortable being honest with their employer about the reason and received a positive response. This results in a culture where fear paired with a lack of trust can shape how time off is requested. 

Generational attitudes add another layer to sick days. 86% of Gen Z report feeling stress or burnout that negatively impacted their productivity or health, compared to only 36% of Baby Boomers, and 61% of overall Americans. 

This may be due to older generations being less likely to request mental health days, with 55% of Baby Boomers saying that they have never needed one, compared to only 14% of Gen Z reporting the same thing.

Interestingly, 19% of respondents reported using a sick day to hide a needed mental health day. However, 42% admit to exaggerating their symptoms to get a mental health day. Broken down, that includes two-thirds of Gen Z compared to 21% of Baby Boomers. In fact, 22% of Gen Z respondents admit to using full-out lies about their symptoms to get a mental health day.

Overall, the official messaging rarely reflects workers’ experiences, with workers also reporting needing to use vacation days to get time off when they are sick. 

Now more than ever, mental health support is a top priority for workers. 72% of American workers support sick policies that treat physical and mental health equally, which will adequately deal with the workplace challenges and employees’ complex relationships with sick days. 

Policy vs. Perception and Maternity Leave

To add to these two reports on the sick leave fiasco, one of our other reports highlights that, despite corporate branding, maternity is not a team player. This report reveals that the troubling truth behind many well-publicized maternity perks is a system that quietly sidelines and penalizes the very women it claims to uplift. Uncovering yet another widespread gap between policy and perception, and in many cases, between maternity benefits offered and careers damaged.

Summary

When taken together, these three statistical reports paint a grim picture, suggesting that there is a lot to be desired in the way that the U.S. workforce is being treated in regard to their well-being.

According to a study in JAMA Network, only 21% of the private sector has access to paid sick leave, with higher wage workers having the greatest access. The disparity only highlights the need for federal action to address the lack of paid sick leave laws that are now common in many other countries. 

This article was created by TJ Webber at the WHN News Desk using some of the information that was supplied by Jim Miller from Page One Power on behalf of the experts from Team Software by WORKWAVE, working to empower efficiency and profitability to reduce costs and drive growth. 

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.