Sick but Still Working: The Surprising Reasons Behind Finland’s Work Culture of Sick Days

In Finland, working while sick is a common practice, with reasons including work pressure and workload. Employees may feel pressured to continue working even when they are ill due to strict absence control measures that make the first day of sick leave unpaid. This can create a vicious cycle where individuals work while sick to manage their workload, leading to even greater pressure when they return from sick leave.

In some jobs, tasks aren’t taken care of by others during an employee’s absence, adding to the pressure to work while sick. However, working while sick isn’t always a result of bad working conditions; meaningful work and a supportive work community can also contribute to employees choosing to work while ill. A good work community can encourage greater responsibility for one’s work and conscientiousness, reducing the need for sick leave. Additionally, a sense of duty and the need to fulfill responsibilities, especially in sectors with workforce shortages like social and health care, can also lead to employees working while sick.

Organizational psychologist Pekka Järvinen highlights that some individuals may have a need to maintain control over their work and fear negative consequences if they take sick leave. Slowly emerging symptoms, like those of work burnout or depression, can also contribute to employees working while exhausted, as they may not recognize the severity of their condition over time. Factors like perfectionism, fears about career progression, financial concerns