Australians are still working while unwell, with guilt, heavy workloads and workplace pressure preventing them from taking sick leave, according to a recent survey by people2people Recruitment.
The findings reflect a broader workplace culture issue, where employees either feel unable to step away or lack the safety net to do so. While permanent staff may have access to paid sick leave, others such as casual workers often do not, creating an uneven experience across the workforce.
This growing trend of presenteeism carries risks for organisations, including lower productivity, higher chances of illness spreading, and declining employee wellbeing. It also signals a disconnect between workplace policies and how comfortable employees feel using them.
The survey found that 65% of respondents said the main reason they work while sick is because they feel too busy (30%) or guilty (35%), while 20% cited fear of judgement.
In spite of strong support for workplace health measures, with 81% saying flu shots should be offered free at work and another 3% supporting discounted access, only 37% had received a flu vaccine in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, 63% had not, and 9% said they planned to but forgot.
The data also shows mixed patterns in leave usage. While 62% used fewer than three days of their 10 day sick leave allowance in the past year, 24%t used 10 days or more. Among those who had no sick leave remaining, 61% said they still went to work while unwell multiple times, and 8% said they had done so at least once. Comfort levels in communicating illness also remain low, with 43% saying they feel very comfortable telling their manager they are too sick to work, compared to 25% who feel uncomfortable and 12% who avoid saying it altogether. Overall, 37% reported discomfort or avoidance in such conversations.
“These findings suggest many Australians still do not feel fully comfortable stepping away from work when they are sick,” says Suhini Wijayasinghe, Head of HR Solutions, people2people recruitment. “When employees say they feel too busy, too guilty, or worried about being judged for taking sick leave, it shows that presenteeism is still being driven by workplace pressure and culture.”
“There is a clear gap between support for workplace flu shots and actual vaccination behaviour,” says Wijayasinghe. “That presents a real opportunity for employers to make preventative health measures more accessible and normalised in the workplace.”
“Sick leave is not just a policy issue, it is also a workplace culture issue,” says Wijayasinghe. “If employees do not feel safe using sick leave when they need it, or if they have no safety net to begin with, organisations risk higher transmission, lower productivity, and poorer wellbeing across their workforce.”
One survey respondent highlighted the divide in access and usage: “Never used sick days, until an operation. Thankfully I never became sick, and seemed to avoid most things. Sick days are a blessing and we are a lucky country to have allocated days. I feel for casual workers because they don’t have that safety net.”
The report underlines the need for organisations to address workplace culture alongside policy. Improving access to sick leave, normalising its use, and expanding preventive health initiatives such as workplace flu vaccinations could help reduce presenteeism and support a healthier, more productive workforce.