While health organizations worldwide, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here in the US, recommend people stay home and avoid contact with others if sick, a recent global poll conducted by Monster found more than three-quarters of respondents (76%) polled go in to the office or work from home when they are ill, rather than resting at home to recuperate. Of the 33,684 people who responded to the poll from 15 countries worldwide, a striking 28% report to work when they are sick because they are afraid they may lose their job in the current economy.

Monster, the leading job matching engine and flagship brand of Monster Worldwide, Inc. posed the question, “Do you go to work sick?” resulting in one of the biggest ever responses to its recent online global poll questions. The key findings were:

- Yes, work is too busy for me to miss a day – 35%

- Yes, in this economy, I'm afraid I'd lose my job – 28%

- No, I work from home if I'm sick – 13%

- No, I rest until I feel better – 24%

Results indicate a large proportion of people prioritize work above their health, with only 24% of workers participating in the poll indicating they take time off to rest in order to get well. With health care reform top of mind at the policy level in the U.S., personal health care is another story, with 32% of American workers citing fear of losing their job as the main reason they go in to work sick. Workers in Finland were the opposite, with slightly more than half (51%) of respondents ensuring they take the time off when sick to feel better.

More than one-third (35%) of respondents worldwide remark they are too busy to miss a day of work and this figure is high across all global regions who participated in the poll. Worldwide, only 12% of workers indicate they work from home if they are sick, which is good news for co-workers.

“Deciding whether to come to work sick or not can be a very emotional issue for some,” said Jeff Quinn, Senior Research Director at Monster.com. “People try to balance urgent recommendations from health organizations to limit the spread of H1N1 by staying home, with the fear of risking their job security in this economy. To help alleviate any issues, managers might help their employees better understand that they are expected to stay home when sick. Managers should also follow their own advice and not come in to the office if they’re sick themselves.”