So far this year, 30% of white-collar workers with access to paid leave have taken sick time, up from 21% in 2019, according to data from payroll and benefits software company Gusto. Employees between ages 25 and 34 are taking sick days most often, with their use rates jumping 45% from before the pandemic.
Bosses Have a Problem: People Are Actually Using Sick Days – WSJ
More people are taking “mental health days”. Older workers have historically been shy of taking sick days to avoid stereotypes that older workers are less healthy.
Times have changed – when our first born was in NICU, born 7 weeks premature, her twin sister dead, I took just a few days off (but to be fair, my employer told me to take whatever I needed). The CEO of my wife’s biotech employer was also very supportive for my wife. For our 2nd born, I drove my wife to the hospital late in the afternoon and was back at work the next day. For our 3rd, I worked at home.
I remember working with a fever too. Ahhh, the good ol’ days, eh?
