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Gen Z driving rise in number of workers calling out sick, study says

By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
Published  August 28, 2024 8:56am EDT
Business
FOX 5 Atlanta

Gen Z taking more time off

A new study says that Gen Z is driving the recent spike in workers calling out sick.

In Brief

    • Gen Z is leading a surge in sick leave, with a 55% increase in 2023 compared to 2019.
    • COVID-19 has shifted workplace attitudes, making minor illnesses a bigger concern.
    • Higher rates of depression in Gen Z, with 42% affected, may also drive the need for more time off.

ATLANTA - A new report from Business Insider highlights that Generation Z is driving a significant increase in workers calling out sick and taking mental health days. 

Sick leave has risen by 55% in 2023 compared to 2019, with younger workers under 35 taking more days off than their older colleagues. Workers aged 22 to 26 were the most likely to have taken a sabbatical during this period.

Experts suggest that this trend is not just about a lack of work ethic among Gen Z. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered attitudes toward illness in the workplace. Concerns about health have heightened, with even minor symptoms like a cold now being taken more seriously.

Additionally, the increase in sick leave among Gen Z may be linked to the generation's higher rates of mental illness. 

A study by the Walton Foundation found that 42% of Gen Z suffers from depression and feelings of hopelessness, compared to 23% of older Americans. This mental health crisis could be contributing to the increased need for time off among younger workers.