Are You Up To The Job?

Sep 28 2008

Try Our Sick & The City Quiz

SICK staff are soldiering on for fear of letting down their colleagues, according to a poll.

Almost three-quarters of UK employees go to work despite feeling so ill they could legitimately take the day off.

A survey of 2000 workers by insurance firm Axa PPP revealed the driving force behind the rising culture of "presenteeism" was people not wanting to put extra strain on the rest of their team.

One in four said they simply had too much work to do while another one in seven were worried their sickness record could be used against them if their employer decided to make people redundant.

The poll revealed women were more likely to go to work when feeling unwell.

One in five were so worried they admitted using their annual leave entitlement to cover up for having to take time off sick.

Take the Scotcareers quiz and find out if you are an office stalwart or a sickie king.

1. On average, how many days do you take off sick each year?

a. None.

b. One to five.

c. Six to 10.

d. More than 10.

2. You wake up with the first symptoms of a cold. Do you...

a. Struggle out of bed in the hope that it clears up?

b. Dose yourself up on cold remedies and make it through the day?

c. Hit the sleep button?

d. Take the rest of the week off?

3. You are approaching deadline on an important project when you sprain your ankle playing football. Do you...

a. Ask your nearest A&E department for crutches so you can make it to work?

b. Soldier on until the task is complete and then take time off to recover?

c. Leave it to the boss to find cover?

d. Get a two-month sick line?

4. Which factor is most likely to get you off your sick bed and into work?

a. The call of duty.

b. Loyalty to my hard-working team.

c. The threat of redundancy.

d. Being hauled into the boss's office for the umpteenth time about your lousy sickness record.

How you scored

MOSTLY As

MOSTLY Bs

MOSTLY Cs

MOSTLY Ds

How you rate

Dan Diehard

Sam Stalwart

Nauseous Nellie

Suzy Sicknote