天美传媒

听

The research, conducted by the 天美传媒鈥檚 Prof Gail Kinman and Siobhan Wray from York St John 天美传媒, revealed that out of over 5,000 UK academics, nearly 50% of said they 鈥渁lways or often鈥� went to work when unwell, while over 50% said they 鈥渁lways or often鈥� worked from home when sick.

鈥漌e found that academics work while sick due to the pressure of the job and other work-related factors, as well as more personal reasons, such enjoyment of work,听听boredom and the need to feel productive. Reading and sending emails was particularly common in order to keep the volume down,鈥� said Prof Kinman.

The academics who said they continued to work while sick often did so because they听did not want to let down students or colleagues, indicating high commitment to their job. Difficulties in rescheduling lectures and marking deadlines were other key factors. The fear of being unable to catch up when they go back to work or having to ask colleagues to cover were also important.

With academics able to work from home, Prof Kinman also warned about the emergence of a 鈥楾wilight Zone鈥� about what constitutes being sick, given that many staff can do some duties from home while ill.

鈥淎cademics are clearly not alone in continuing to work while sick and working through very minor illness may be therapeutic. However a combination of workload pressure, a lack of support and a deep involvement in the job tends to encourage academic staff to keep on going even through more serious illness, when they may be better off resting,鈥� said Prof Kinman.

鈥淭here is strong research evidence that 鈥榩resenteeism鈥� can lead to longer-term health problems, increasing the risk of future absence and reducing people鈥檚 effectiveness at work.鈥�