The Arbeiterkammer expressed its concern that two-thirds of employees go to work while they are sick.
New figures released by the Upper Austria Chamber of Labor (Arbeiterkammer – AK) reveal that nearly two-thirds of employees go to work despite being sick, prompting experts to warn of serious health and professional risks.
According to the data in the AK report, this behavior has seen a sharp increase in recent years. In 2015, only about 30 percent were working while sick, but that percentage has more than doubled over the past decade and continues to rise.
A survey conducted by AK revealed several reasons behind this trend. 57.3 percent of participants expressed a strong sense of responsibility towards their colleagues, while about 39 percent said there is no alternative to them or no one who can take over their tasks in their absence.
The work chamber warned of the health consequences of this behavior, as one in five employees reported that their illness lasted longer than it should have due to not getting enough rest, while more than a third of participants reported problems with concentration at work.
Andreas Stangl, the head of AK, confirmed that the real problem is not in Krankenstand (sick leave), but in employees going to work while they are sick. The chamber opposes any tightening or reduction of sick leave rights, especially Entgeltfortzahlung (continued payment of wages during illness), and demands protection from dismissal, enhancement of prevention and occupational health, and provision of a sufficient number of employees. Internationally, Austria ranks average with an annual sick leave rate of 14.9 days, compared to 24.9 days in Germany.