One in three European workers show up sick for fear of losing their job, exposing widespread presenteeism driven by job insecurity
Executive summary: A survey cited by El País shows that about one‑third of European employees go to work despite being ill, primarily because they fear losing their jobs or facing other penalties. Presenteeism can reduce workplace productivity, worsen health outcomes and increase hidden costs for firms and public health systems, while also signalling broader labor‑market insecurity.
Who is involved: European workers across sectors, employers who may implicitly encourage attendance, medical professionals lacking diagnostic resources, and policymakers focusing on sick‑leave abuse.
Likely next: National labor ministries may review presenteeism‑related guidelines, employers could revisit attendance policies, and unions might press for stronger protections against dismissal for health‑related absence.
The El País report cites surveys indicating that roughly a third of European employees attend work while ill because they fear dismissal or other reprisals. This behavior contrasts with the political focus on fraudulent sick leave, highlighting a different dimension of labor‑market strain. Doctors interviewed say they lack the tools to assess and address presenteeism effectively. The phenomenon raises concerns about productivity, employee health and potential longer‑term costs for employers and social‑security systems.
Timeline
- — Sick workers who are not on sick leave for fear of dismissal: “It’s a horrible pain” (El País — Economía)
- — The nightmare of working in the Baleares courts: “They call to resign” (El País — Economía)
- — Mobile provider: Job cuts at O2: Union accuses firm of lack of planning (Handelsblatt)
- — Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume sees ‘intelligent solutions’ as alternatives to plant closures (Der Spiegel — Wirtschaft)
Sources
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