Calling in sick might seem like a basic right, but for millions of Americans, it’s a luxury they can’t afford.
A new survey from TEAM Software, which asked 1,000 working Americans about their sick leave habits, found that over half of U.S. workers would struggle financially if they had to take even one week of unpaid sick time. With an estimated 27 million people lacking access to paid sick days altogether, the result is a workforce that’s burned out, anxious, and often forced to choose between their health and their paycheck.
The survey reveals just how common it is for people to work through illness. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said they’d worked while sick in the past year. Among younger workers, the stakes are even higher: 15% of Gen Z respondents said they’d actually been fired for taking sick days.
Many are finding creative and concerning ways to cope. Forty-two percent admitted to faking a physical illness to justify time off, using it as a way to escape burnout. And it’s taking a toll: 1 in 4 workers say overwork has caused them insomnia, while 1 in 5 report experiencing anxiety or panic attacks related to their workload.
The message is clear: without stronger sick leave policies, many workers are being put in impossible situations. As companies continue talking about wellness and work-life balance, this data shows there’s still a long way to go.
You can read the full results here: https://blog.teamsoftware.com/the-hidden-cost-of-sick-days
