HERNING, Denmark, Apr 30, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Repeatedly going to work
when ill significantly boosts the chances of having to take long-term sick leave
later, researchers in Denmark found.
The researchers at Herning Hospital in Denmark randomly selected almost 12,000
Danes of working age who had been in continuous employment for at least one
year, to answer questions on their attitudes toward work, preparedness to take
time off when ill and general health.
They were asked how many times in the preceding year they had gone to work ill
when it would have been reasonable stay home.
Their responses were linked with official records detailing periods of sick
leave taken, and lasting at least a fortnight, during the next 18 months.
Poor general health, a heavy workload, work-family life conflicts, a good level
of social support, holding a senior post and obesity featured most often among
those who repeatedly came to work, despite being ill.
The study, published in Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that
workers who came to work while sick at least half a dozen times were 53 percent
more likely to end up going off sick for two weeks, and 74 percent more likely
to take more than two months of sick leave, compared with those who did not come
to work when ill.
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