As winter settles across Australia, thousands of workers are left with a deadly decision. Do they need to miss work to heal, or do they have to continue working sick? Flu season peaks early, between June and August. As a consequence, millions of Australians are waking up with itchy eyes, sore throats and incessant tiredness. This raises an important question: should employees take a sick day or work from home when feeling unwell?
In Australia, workers can take paid or unpaid sick leave. It makes all full-time workers eligible for up to ten days of paid sick leave each year, with part-time workers getting a prorated entitlement. The picture is often very different for low-wage workers with non-standard employment or self-employed workers. Nearly 2.6 million non-union employees don’t have paid sick leave—which means they can’t take time to get well when sickness hits.
Estimates suggest that 30 to 90 percent of workers report going to work while sick at least once per year. This number paints a picture of just how prevalent this problem is. Accurate numbers are difficult to find, since most companies do not track when workers show up to work sick. That’s why so many workers go into work sick—because they can’t afford to miss a paycheck. Plus, workplace culture tends to make them feel guilty about taking time off.
The covid pressure to go to work sick is extreme for anyone in casual or self-employment. Without guaranteed paid sick leave benefits, these workers often face a difficult choice: take time off and risk losing income or power through their sickness. This catch-22 can worsen health conditions and recovery time, ultimately impacting productivity in the workplace as well.
The flu season amplifies these challenges. With more Australians sick during this season, the pressure on the workforce is compounded. Millions of workers are in a position where they believe they cannot afford to take a sick day, choosing their economic wellbeing over their personal wellbeing. Taken as a whole, it presents serious cause for concern regarding the long-term effects on individual worker health and productivity.
Paid sick leave is a standard workplace benefit for full-time and part-time employees. Workers in non-standard employment arrangements mostly do not have access to these crucial benefits. This discrepancy is indicative of an ongoing issue within the Australian labor market. Job security and protection of employee rights are still very big issues.
Millions of Australians are working through sickness and/or caring for people with milder conditions. These realities render any discussion about workplace policies and improving worker mental health, safety, and well-being absolutely essential. Organizations should take this time to reimagine their sick leave practices. This is crucial to protecting all workers, so they know they can take time off when they need to without compromising their financial stability or facing other consequences.
