Apparently, Americans are so worried about their jobs that many go to work sick. The trend would not seem to be good for either the sick persons or people who work in proximity to them.

Based on information from a new survey by the Center for Research and Public Policy (CRPP):

According to the survey, 51 percent of employees reported they always or frequently go to work when sick. More than 45 percent said they go to work sick because they can’t afford to lose pay. More than 46 percent said they didn’t want to let their co-workers down by not showing up for a shift. When managers were asked how many employees they thought came to work sick, the majority answered just 18 percent.

Over 20 million U.S. and Canadian frontline food workers grow, process, distribute, cook, and serve the food that is eaten by over 355 million consumers every day. They are the vital link of a complex food system from farm to fork.

What the survey does not tell is the effect on productivity. Presumably sick workers do not match the output of healthy workers overall. And if their illnesses are contagious, the productivity of an entire workplace, or a part of a larger company, may be compromised.

The information also points to the fact that workers believe their bosses presumably would take a sick worker over none at all. At least, for some reason, workers believe that, even if the assumption is not true.

As the CRPP points out, it is the time of year when worker illness should increase: “As the cold and flu season approaches …”

Better to be sick than out of a job.

ALSO READ: 10 Cities Where You Don’t Want to Get Sick

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