Sick with worry over long-term absence

ALMOST four-fifths of workers would return from long-term sick leave before they have fully recovered, research suggests.

A study of UK businesses and employees by insurer Aviva UK Health found that 68 per cent of those having to take sick leave cited family finances as their biggest concern, with 29 per cent worried about meeting mortgage payments during their long-term absence.

Just 22 per cent of employees said they would not sacrifice their health by returning to work too soon.

The report blamed money worries for the trend towards going back to work without fully recovering, with 49 per cent of employees saying they would return prematurely if they thought their family was struggling to cope financially, while 11 per cent claimed that fear of losing their job would accelerate their return to work.