Research conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) suggests most organisations are struggling to break unhealthy working habits such as presenteeism and leaveism.

According to the latest CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work report, the pandemic-related rise in remote working has further blurred the boundaries between work and home life for many people. As a result, an ‘always on’ culture is encouraging more employees to work outside their contracted hours or when ill.

The survey analysed responses from 668 HR professionals and found that:

• 84% of employers observed presenteeism – people working when unwell – over the past 12 months

• 70% observed leaveism – the use of leave entitlement, such as flexitime or annual holiday, to catch up on work or cover illness – in the past year

• 82% were concerned about the pandemic’s impact on employees’ mental health.

On a positive note, the research did reveal an increase in the proportion of firms taking steps to address these issues. However, it also found that over two-fifths of organisations experiencing presenteeism or leaveism are still taking no action at all. For those employers in particular, the report identified three key areas for potential improvement:

1. Equip line managers with the training, knowledge and skills to support people’s health effectively

2. Take a more strategic approach to enhance wellbeing

3. Increase investment in wellbeing initiatives.

“It’s crucial for organisations to address any issues that could be creating a culture where staff feel they are expected to work when ill or feel it’s the only way they can stay on top of their workload.”

– Rachel Suff, Senior Policy Adviser, CIPD

For the latest information on COVID-19 and the measures the government are taking visit the government website.

All details are correct at the time of writing (11 May 2021).