ASK A GP: SHOULD I GO TO WORK WHEN I’M ILL?

Did you take a sick day the last time you were ill? Or did you power through, sneezing on the train or logging in from home, wrapped in a blanket?

Research suggests that many Brits push through illnesss for work. Even prior to the pandemic, a 2019 survey found that UK workers averaged only six sick days a year. The switch to working from home has further blurred the lines around when you’re well enough to work. 

Research from the US has shown people who work remotely take fewer sick days.

So what are the consequences for our bodies when we power through and make the commute, or even log on remotely? Not great, apparently.

Dr Lawrence Cunningham, GP and contributing medical expert at UK Care Guide, explains that when we fail to rest properly we do our bodies a disservice. “I have seen time and again that pushing through illness can prolong recovery times and, in some cases, exacerbate the severity of the illness. Our bodies naturally need rest to fight off infections effectively; without it, our immune response is weakened, and we risk spreading the illness to others.” 

Even if you are home and therefore avoiding the risk to others health, that doesn’t free you from the consequences, he says. “I always recommend taking the time to recover from any illness properly. It’s not just about personal health but also about public responsibility. In the long term, rest allows for a quicker return to full health and productivity. Being brave and going in to work is not the answer.”

Read Next: I needed HRT – but was told to lie to my doctor to get it 

Studies, including one review of 12 papers, have shown that when people go to work when ill, they are at increased risk of sickness absence in the future: so they are just deferring their sickness absence. Working when sick has been shown to be a risk factor for future adverse health events, including cardiovascular disease and mental health problems. 

Dr Mariella Miraglia studies organisational behaviour at the University of Liverpool Management School. She says constraints on sick leave, high job demands, and the type of illness all play a part in “sickness presenteeism”. She says it’s more of an issue today because of remote working and shifting perceptions around health: “After Covid people are probably more cautious to show up at work while sneezing or with a fever. They may be at home but they could still be working on and off, maybe alternating work and rest, or working from bed in pyjamas”. 

There is a school of thought that the feeling of sickness (lethargy, depression, changed appetite, temperature change and so on) is a sign from your brain in order to help you heal. Known as lassitude, ignoring these signals can have a direct impact on your body’s ability to heal.

A lack of rest, particularly sleep, has a direct impact on your immune system’s function. Sleep is essential for replenishing the cytokines, proteins released by your immune system that are essential for fighting infection. And though energy spent will be reduced by staying at home, it will still have a significant impact. 

Braving it for the sake of work isn’t doing your boss any favours, either. A study of pharmacists in the UK found that employees who worked while sick made more frequent errors. According to the authors, working when unwell requires more effort from employees as they need to overcome the distracting symptoms of illness (whether that’s pain, trouble concentrating or needing regular breaks). Another study calculated that presenteeism costs UK employers up to £29bn per year.

So unless you are in specific circumstances, you should always take a proper sick day. Your body – and your boss – will thank you.

2025-04-22T05:51:36Z