The Culture of Sick Work in Finland: Exploring the Reasons Behind This Workplace Norm

In Finland, it is common for employees to work while sick due to various reasons such as work pressure, workload, meaningful work, and a supportive work community. Strict absence control measures, including making the first day of sick leave unpaid, can contribute to this practice. 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. Factors like perfectionism, fears about career progression, financial concerns, and the nature of the illness can also influence employees to work while sick. This can lead to future sickness absences as individuals may not fully recover if they continue to work while sick.