Repeatedly working when ill boosts risk of long term sick leaveApril 30, 2009Sick at work -- a risk factor for long term sickness absence at a later date? Repeatedly going to work when ill significantly boosts the chances of having to take long term sick leave later on, reveals research published ahead of print in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Going to work when ill is an increasingly recognised phenomenon known as "sickness presence," but relatively little is known about the long term impact of this behaviour. The researchers randomly selected almost 12,000 Danes of working age, who had been in continuous employment for at least a year, to answer questions on their attitudes to work, preparedness to take time off when ill, and general health. They were asked how many times in the preceding year they had gone to work ill when it would have been reasonable to have stayed at home. Their responses were married up with official records detailing periods of sick leave taken, and lasting at least a fortnight, over the next 18 months. Poor general health, a heavy workload, work-family life conflicts, a good level of social support, holding a senior post, and obesity featured most often among those who repeatedly came to work, despite being ill. Workers who had done this at least half a dozen times were 53% more likely to end up going off sick for two weeks, and 74% more likely to take more than two months of sick leave, compared with those who did not come to work when ill. These findings held true even after taking account of known risk factors for long term sick leave, previous bouts of lengthy sickness absence, and prevailing health. Short periods off sick may allow workers to cope better with the stresses of a demanding job, and, overall, the evidence is that employment is good for health, say the authors. But long term sick leave is associated with difficulties finding work, they warn. BMJ-British Medical Journal |
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| Related Sick Leave Current Events and Sick Leave News Articles Four-fifths of businesses foresee problems maintaining operations if H1N1 flu outbreak In a national survey of businesses that looks at their preparations for a possible widespread H1N1 outbreak, Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found that only one-third believe they could sustain their business without severe operational problems if half their workforce were absent for two weeks due to H1N1 (also known as "swine flu"). European businesses not properly advised on how to prepare for flu pandemic A new report entitled Business Continuity Planning and Pandemic Influenza in Europe, published by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), has found huge gaps and differences across Europe in the level of advice given to businesses to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic. More sick leave given to men by male GPs compared with female counterparts Male patients are given more certified sick leave by male doctors compared with the amount of sick notes given to females by female doctors, a University of Liverpool study has revealed. Norwalk virus: 'Cruise ship' illness challenging and costly to hospitals, too A review of measures taken to address a 2004 outbreak of the highly infectious Norwalk virus at The Johns Hopkins Hospital has provided the first solid documentation of expenses and efforts in the United States to stop the infection from spreading among patients, staff and visitors. Whiplash may produce delayed jaw pain One in three people exposed to whiplash trauma is at risk of developing delayed TMJ symptoms that may require treatment, according to research published in the August issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association. Advice, devices ineffective in preventing worker back pain Back pain is the number one cause of worker-compensation complaints, second only to the common cold in causing lost workdays. Smokers clock up almost 8 additional days of sick leave every year Smokers take an average of almost eight days more of sick leave every year than their non-smoking colleagues, suggested research published in Tobacco Control. Workers on daily probiotics less likely to take time off sick Workers who take probiotics daily are less likely to be off work with common illnesses, such as colds and gastroenteritis, than workers who don't. Depression overtakes back pain for incapacity benefit claims Common mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, now account for more incapacity benefit claims than musculoskeletal conditions like low back pain, say researchers in this week's BMJ. Sickness records can predict employee deaths Employees who take long spells of sick leave more than once in two years are at a higher risk of death than their colleagues with no such absence, conclude researchers in this week's BMJ. They obtained sickness absence records for 6,895 male and 3,413 female civil servants until the end of 1989 and analysed associations with death until 1999. Deaths increased as the medically certified absence rates (spells of more than 7 days) increased. Men and women who had more than five medically certified absences over 10 years had a death rate two to five times greater than those with no such absence. In contrast to medically certified absences, the researchers found no significant association between More Sick Leave Current Events and Sick Leave News Articles |
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