Presenteeism | Gen Z actually take their sick days, and that's something employers should encourage

Sometimes businesses seem to take on a life of their own. In many ways, they are these faceless machines that slot into, and fuel, an economy. Because of an awareness that a business must operate continuously, there can be the tendency of some employers to overlook the necessity of events that can get in the way of work.

Life events like bereavements, which are unavoidable for almost everyone, can sometimes be seen as an inconvenience to employers. Ultimately, the people aspect of a company, which is arguably everything to do with a company, cannot be treated like machines.

That’s why an even more common ‘inconvenience’ for employers, sick days, should be seen as exactly what they are – a natural part of life.

And reportedly, young employees are leading the way in taking sick leave when they need it. According to research from the platform Dayforce, employees younger than 36-years-old are taking 29% more sick days when compared to 2019. The same still applies for those older than this group – with these older workers seeing a 16% increase in sick days.