Half of UK workers struggled with presenteeism this summer – poll

Nearly half (49%) of UK workers admit to having worked while unwell this summer, with stress, poor sleep, work demands, and a lack of anyone to cover for them all key factors.

A poll of 2,000 people, commissioned by Vista Health, found most who felt ill tried to ‘power through’ for an average of six days, with this highlighting the extent of ‘summer presenteeism’.

Nearly half of those polled (45%) experienced trouble sleeping, especially given the hot weather we had this summer. A third (32%) struggled with stress or anxiety, while 31% suffered extreme tiredness or fatigue and a quarter (25%) experienced low mood.

A total of 28% carried on working simply because they had too much work to do, while 19% said it was because of not wanting to lose pay.

Others (17%) had nobody available to cover them or feared their workload would pile up if they took time off (16%).

But summer presenteeism had consequences, with 28% feeling they had become less productive, 25% struggling to concentrate and 24% feeling worse by the end of the day, argued Vista Health.

Three in 10 (29%) admitted to putting off getting a health appointment, test or check during the summer. Among those who delayed an appointment, the average length of time it had been postponed was six weeks.

Dr Reem Hasan, chief medical officer at Vista Health and an NHS GP, said: “One thing remains true throughout the seasons; your health should never be put on hold. Symptoms do not wait until life becomes less busy.

“Listening to your body, seeking advice when something does not feel right and making prevention part of everyday life are some of the most important investments you can make in your future health.

“Yet summer also offers an opportunity to reset. Longer days, warmer weather and time spent with family and friends make it easier to establish healthier routines before the demands of autumn return,” she added.