Americans No Longer Admire “Powering Through” Illness At Work

Nearly one-third of Americans now disapprove of colleagues showing up to work while sick, according to a Talker Research survey of 2,000 people. Only 25% believe working while ill impresses bosses or superiors, marking a cultural shift away from “powering through” mentality. While 21% attended work sick in the past year, 86% worry about their wellbeing when others arrive visibly ill. Top reasons for working sick included “I had already committed” (28%) and “I couldn’t afford to miss work” (27%). Just 22% of employees felt employer pressure to work while sick. However, 42% said relationships would suffer if someone knowingly showed up ill, with 64% calling such behavior “selfish.” Post-pandemic attitudes changed for 57% of respondents, with 70% now more cautious about hygiene. (Story URL)