Worried workers put job before health

Thu 9 Oct 2008

Workers are putting their job before their health, worried because of the current financial crisis, a medical expert has claimed.

By working through minor ailments some employees can worsen their condition and then need additional time off, according to Dr Serene Foster.

"People feel under a lot of pressure at work, especially at the moment," she noted.

"People are worried about losing their jobs and they will be more than likely to turn up at work when they should really be at home."

According to research by Sambucol, Britain's working mums are the most consistently hard-working in the country.

Mothers are most likely to put their own health last on their list of priorities, it claimed. The drinks company said working mums often put first looking after their house, their children, their career and sometimes their own parents.

"Overall it's better that you do take rest rather than going to work if you're harbouring a cold that could turn into something nasty", said Dr Foster.

Workers in call centres in Leicester and office jobs in Manchester often have similar sick reporting practices.