Sick employees 'encouraged to work to fight credit crunch'

Sick employees 'encouraged to work to fight credit crunch'

7.10.2008

Many employees are coming into work when they are ill or continuing to perform tasks at home as companies fight the credit crunch, new research suggests.

According to a survey health insurer HSA, 35 per cent of human resources workers said their firms encouraged them to pick up emails and do basic work from home when they were off sick.

Furthermore, 15 per cent said even though they were not always asked to do this, it probably took place.

Richard Halley, head of sales at HSA, said that although "tough economic times" mean companies are "under pressure to get the best out of employees", this should not happen if their health is at risk.

"Companies will only battle through an economic downturn with the support of their employees and their wellbeing should therefore be of paramount importance," he added.

Another way in which employers are dealing with the credit crunch is to reduce the size of their offices, a report by estate agent Cushman & Wakefield discovered.

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