Study shows Americans feel pressured to work while sick

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

ARE YOU THE KIND OF PERSON WHO JUST ‘POWERS THROUGH’ WHEN YOU’RE SICK?

NEW RESEARCH REVEALS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN SPENDS ABOUT 84 HOURS A YEAR WORKING WHILE UNDER THE WEATHER.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICANS WHICH FOUND THAT FOR NEARLY A THIRD (34%), ONE REASON IS BECAUSE THEY’RE WORRIED OTHERS MAY THINK THEY’RE ‘DRAMATIC’ WHEN THEY’RE FEELING UNWELL. 

CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF NECTAR ALLERGY, THE SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT MORE THAN A QUARTER (26%) SAY THEY FEEL LIKE THEY’RE THE PERSON WHO IS MOST OFTEN SICK IN THEIR FRIEND GROUP OR FAMILY.

BEYOND THAT, IN AN AVERAGE YEAR, RESPONDENTS SAY THEY MISS 17 SOCIAL EVENTS BECAUSE THEY FEEL UNWELL.

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Nectar Allergy between March 11 and March 14, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).