Some people treat sick leave almost like a last resort. They may have a fever, headache, stomach problem or feel completely exhausted, yet still open their laptop, answer emails and attend meetings. They may tell themselves, “I can rest after I finish this,” or “There is too much work to take a day off.”
Psychology calls the broader behaviour of working despite illness presenteeism. Research suggests that it is not always simply a sign of ambition or commitment. People may continue working because of workload, job insecurity, workplace expectations, personal beliefs, emotional attachment to work or a feeling that taking leave will create even more problems.
