Wellbeing | 'Too busy to be sick': study reveals worrying presenteeism

Despite the workplace health and wellbeing trend being a core priority for UK HR practitioners over the last few years, it seems that employees working in SMEs are still putting personal illness and injury on the back-burner.

New research compiled by Bupa and Babylon Health found that seven in ten employees have delayed seeking medical advice when they ought to, despite the majority of business leaders having no problem with employees taking the time off to seek medical advice.

Despite employers prioritising workplace health and wellbeing, it seems that employees still aren’t being open, with 32% playing down their illness or injury and 72% feeling too busy to miss work.

Mark Allan, Commercial Director at BUPA UK said that employers are competing against a strong strain of resistance from those employees “who will strive to soldier on”. He added that this employee resistance is heightened in SMEs.