Gen Z drives surge in sick days at work
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — In recent years, the number of sick days taken by American workers has significantly increased, with Generation Z at the forefront of this trend.
HR platforms Dayforce and Gusto have reported substantial rises in sick leave usage, particularly among younger employees.
Sick leave trends among U.S. workers
Dayforce reported a 55% increase in sick leave among its U.S. client companies in 2023 compared to 2019. Gusto’s data showed that 30% of white-collar workers took sick leave last year, marking a 42% jump from 2019.
The 25-to-34 age group is taking more sick time than older workers, with those 35 and under showing a 29% increase in sick leave since 2019, compared to a 16% increase for those over 35.
Factors driving sick day increases
Several factors contribute to this shift in work culture:
- Health consciousness: The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the importance of not going to work while ill.
- Mental health awareness: There’s an expanded understanding of what constitutes a valid reason for taking sick leave, including mental health days.
- Work-life balance: Younger generations are prioritizing self-care and establishing clearer work-life boundaries.
- Changing loyalty dynamics: After witnessing widespread layoffs, younger workers may be less inclined to sacrifice their well-being for their jobs.
“There’s just a generational shift towards balancing work life, taking care of your whole self and those sorts of things. I think that we’ve heard over and over again that Gen Z and younger millennials really prioritize those things,” said Liz Wilke, a principal economist at Gusto.
“People are just, I think, being a little more protective of their health and enforcing some work-life boundaries, especially around their health.”
Impact on workplace culture
While this trend signifies a positive step towards healthier work practices, it also raises questions about long-term career impacts. Managers may take note of frequent absences, and there’s a delicate balance between setting healthy boundaries and maintaining job security.
As Malissa Clark from the University of Georgia’s Healthy Work Lab explained, “By the downstream effects, it’s going to affect their performance, and so it’s going to affect the organization. Boundaries are healthy, but you also don’t want to set them so hard you boundary yourself into unemployment.”
Despite these changes, the long-term impact of this trend remains uncertain. While some workers may benefit from taking more time off, others could face repercussions if their boundaries lead to perceptions of unreliability.
As American work culture continues to evolve, Gen Z’s approach to balancing work and health could serve as a model for future generations, encouraging a healthier, more sustainable work environment.
