Debt fears mean ‘the end of the sick day’

The working population are so afraid of being made redundant during the recession – and possibly risk sliding into debt – that they are continuing to work regardless of how ill they feel.

This is what has emerged as a result of new research by Simplyhealth as part of its Bothered Britain Report, which is to be released later this month.

According to the findings, 43 per cent of UK residents have not taken any days off work within the last 12 months, increasing by 20 per cent on 2008’s figure of 36 per cent.

People living in Newcastle registered as being the most concerned about job security, with 71 per cent admitting that they are less likely to take days off as a result and 57 per cent stating they have not missed a day of work in the last year.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that the employment rate was 72.5 per cent for the three months to July 2009, its lowest level since the three months to February 1997.

By Sarah Adie