As companies cut back on sick leave, many workers feel pressure to report to work even when they are ill. However, studies suggest that productivity losses from working while sick far outweigh the costs of absenteeism. Employees who come to work while sick may also spread their illness to other workers. For this reason some employers are offering more paid sick days to encourage ill workers to stay home and recover.
See "Coming to work sick leaves firms feeling ill", Barbara Rose, Chicago Tribune, November 14, 2004