Socioeconomic Factors Associated With an Intention to Work While Sick From COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: We sought to understand barriers to staying home from work when sick from COVID-19 (COVID-19 presenteeism) to understand COVID-19 health disparities and transmission and guide workplace and social policy. Methods: We used logistic regression models to assess which socioeconomic factors were associated with intended COVID-19 presenteeism among an online study population working outside their home in March 2020 ( N = 220). Results: Overall, 34.5% of participants reported intended COVID-19 presenteeism. Younger individuals and individuals making over $90,000 per year were less likely to report COVID-19 presenteeism. Individuals who were worried about having enough food had 3-fold higher odds of intended COVID-19 presenteeism. Conclusion: Current policies around food access, paid sick leave, and other workplace protections need to be expanded and made more accessible to reduce health disparities as well as the transmission of COVID-19 and other infections.

Vaccines alone will not prevent COVID-19 outbreaks among migrant workers—the example of meat processing plants

“…For example, due to the notoriety associated with various large COVID-19 outbreaks in meat processing facilities, migrant workers reported experiencing discrimination and being stigmatized as sources of community COVID-19 transmission ( 45 ). Social factors such as overcrowded housing, transportation barriers, and poverty can also increase COVID-19 transmission risk ( 46 ). Living in overcrowded housing or co-habitation in congregate housing with other migrant workers and transportation barriers that necessitate public transportation use or carpooling can increase viral exposure and make self-isolation and quarantine impossible.…”

“…Other, socioeconomic factors such as low-paying work, lack of paid sick leave, and precarious immigration status linked to employment disincentivize migrant workers who develop COVID-19 symptoms to follow public health measures, isolate or seek COVID-19 testing, and instead incentivizes working despite knowledge that they may infect co-workers. Similarly, migrant workers are disincentivized from reporting COVID-19 exposures outside of work or participating in asymptomatic testing programs as many fear retribution for missing work or income loss due to lack of isolation pay ( 46 , 47 ). Finally, migrant workers have reported presenteeism, a phenomena that occurs when workers continue to work despite being ill, incentivized by monetary bonuses for not missing work due to illness or isolation ( 46 , 47 , 48 ).…”

“…Similarly, migrant workers are disincentivized from reporting COVID-19 exposures outside of work or participating in asymptomatic testing programs as many fear retribution for missing work or income loss due to lack of isolation pay ( 46 , 47 ). Finally, migrant workers have reported presenteeism, a phenomena that occurs when workers continue to work despite being ill, incentivized by monetary bonuses for not missing work due to illness or isolation ( 46 , 47 , 48 ).…”

“…To overcome vaccine hesitancy and rebuild trust among migrants working in frontline essential services, health systems should provide immunizations in a culturally sensitive manner with translation and cultural brokering services ( 49 , 50 , 59 ). On-site workplace vaccinations will address transportation barriers and inability or hesitancy to miss work to receive a vaccine ( 41 , 42 , 46 , 47 ). Mobile vaccination units require: 1) Physical space including tents, chairs, tables, electricity and heat; 2) Supplies including syringes, vaccines, alcohol swabs, emergency response kits, etc.…”

Treatment interruption is a risk factor for sickness presenteeism: a large-scale cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Under the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is concern that both organizational and individual factors will increase sickness presenteeism above that observed under normal conditions [13][14][15] . Organizational factors that may lead to more sickness presenteeism include increased workload and working hours per person, increased work pressure due to a manpower shortage in the organization and changes in work demands on short notice during the pandemic.…”