Gen Z workers are taking more sick days than previous generations—here’s why

Sick days have taken on a whole new meaning.

As Gen Z workers enter the workforce, paid sick days—mandated by most companies—are being used more than ever.

Approximately 30% of employees took sick leave in the first 10 months of 2023 – up 42% from 2019, according to human resources platform Gusto, which is used by more than 300,000 US businesses.

Average time off for sick leave has also increased by 15% since 2019, reaching an average of 15.5 hours per year.

Another HR platform, Dayforce, reported a 55% increase in sick leave over the same time frame, based on the activity of its users.

Among white-collar workers, Dayforce saw a 42% increase in sick leave since 2019.

Workers aged 25 to 34 were most likely to take advantage of these benefits, according to Gusto’s data.

“This younger generation is now more likely to take time off work to rest and recover from an illness – a sign of a generational shift in the attitudes employees have about taking time off to protect their health. their,” Gusto said last. year.

Jake Canull, regional director of the Top Employers Institute in New York, has reacted to these data in a response sent to Fox News Digital.

Top Employers, in a new study, found that regardless of age, “sick days are encouraged by employers to prevent and recover from illness,” Canull said.

Many companies with high levels of employee engagement have created initiatives to raise awareness of mental and emotional health, the expert noted.

Those same companies are 14% more likely to discourage people from working overtime and 9% more likely to encourage them to take stress-relieving breaks during the workday, Canull added.

Gen Z workers are less likely to work in independent, self-directed workspaces — as they value human contact and collaboration, he said.

America’s younger workers also prioritize their well-being, he noted, and are “very community-focused.”

“They tend to [avoid] infecting their colleagues by staying at home,” Canull told Fox News Digital.

“In general, they tend to prioritize safer and healthier workplaces over opportunities for growth and development.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, told Fox News Digital that “it would be nice” to think that additional use of sick days is because people are more aware. for the spread of infection since the pandemic.

“But I don’t believe that’s the case,” he said. “If anything, fatigue after COVID-19 has led to fewer precautions, including COVID, which is now spreading widely again.”

Dr.

“People are more likely to game the system or seek mental health days because of the increasing anxiety and depression in our society,” Siegel theorizes.

“Some people just feel the urge to get more balance in their lives between work and play.”

Dr. Kyle Elliott, a career coach based in California, agreed that Gen Z employees prioritize work-life balance.

“It’s easier to take a sick day when you find meaning and purpose beyond your work and your career,” Elliott told Fox News Digital.

Gen Z workers have also recognized that sick days aren’t just reserved for physical ailments, according to the expert.

“They can also be used when you’re dealing with stress or burnout — and you don’t have to give your employer a detailed reason why you’re using your sick time,” Elliott said.

“Gen Z workers are proving that it doesn’t hurt to take a day or two off when you’re feeling mentally drained or exhausted. — and it can pay off in the long run if you recover faster.”

Elliott suggested that America’s younger workers are learning that there’s “more to life than work” and “little benefit from working when you’re sick.”

New and exclusive data from the Gen Z Top Employers survey found that 81% of young workers believe their employers have a responsibility to support the physical well-being of their employees.

Meanwhile, 83% agree that employers are responsible for supporting the psychological well-being of their employees.

Also, 62% of Gen Z respondents would be willing to accept a lower salary in exchange for a better work-life balance, according to the survey.

Gen Z workers encouraged the fostering of supportive work environments, as 78% said the workplace should build community, social connections and belonging – and 75% stated that fun at work is important.