3q, EMC, Epidode 7, Essential Report, essential vision, peter lewis, Sick Days, sickies, trends
EMC director Peter Lewis looks at the great Australian sickie.
26 March 2012, 260312, annual leave, employment, Health, Polling, polls, Sick Day, Sick Days, Sick leave, sickie
Q. Which of the following apply to you over the last 12 months?
|
Total |
Men |
Women |
Aged 18-34 |
Aged 35-54 |
Aged 55+ |
|
| I have taken a sickie (that is, a day off work when you weren’t really sick) |
23% |
23% |
22% |
30% |
21% |
8% |
| I have taken a day off sick without a doctor’s certificate |
51% |
49% |
52% |
55% |
53% |
34% |
| I have taken a day off sick with a doctor’s certificate |
47% |
49% |
44% |
49% |
49% |
33% |
| I have gone to work when I was sick |
81% |
83% |
78% |
83% |
82% |
70% |
* based of those who worked in paid employment over the last 12 months
More than three times as many respondents said that, over the last 12 months, they had worked when they were sick than had taken a “sickie”. 81% said they had gone to work when they were sick and 23% said they had taken a day off work when they weren’t really sick.
Men (83%) were a little more likely than women (78%) to go to work when they were sick.
Those aged under 35 were a little more likely to take a “sickie” (30%) but were also more likely to go to work when they were sick (83%).
Older respondents seem to be less likely to get sick at all – 70% said they had worked when sick – and only 34% had taken a day off with a doctor’s certificate and 33% without a doctor’s certificate.