According to a survey conducted in October and November 2023, most people in Great Britain thought that sleeping, reading, and watching TV were completely acceptable activities to undertake when a person was off sick from work, along with getting supplies to treat their illness, and browsing the internet. Although generally seen as acceptable, activities such as playing video games, going for a walk and posting on social media were more of a grey area. The least acceptable activity was going to the pub, with 72 percent of Britons seeing this as completely unacceptable.
If a person is given the day off work because they are physically unwell, do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for them to do each of the following?
Characteristic
Completely Acceptable
Somewhat Acceptable
Don't know
Somewhat Unacceptable
Completely Unacceptable
Sleep
92%
5%
2%
1%
0%
Read
80%
16%
2%
1%
1%
Watch TV / video streaming
73%
22%
2%
2%
1%
Go out to buy supplies to treat their illness
71%
23%
2%
3%
1%
Browse the internet
66%
27%
3%
3%
1%
Play video games
46%
32%
4%
11%
6%
Go out for a walk
32%
42%
3%
16%
7%
Go out to run essential errands (e.g. picking up children from school, food shopping)
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YouGov. (November 15, 2023). If a person is given the day off work because they are physically unwell, do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for them to do each of the following? [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426795/uk-acceptable-tasks-to-do-when-off-sick-survey/
YouGov. "If a person is given the day off work because they are physically unwell, do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for them to do each of the following?." Chart. November 15, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426795/uk-acceptable-tasks-to-do-when-off-sick-survey/
YouGov. (2023). If a person is given the day off work because they are physically unwell, do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for them to do each of the following?. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426795/uk-acceptable-tasks-to-do-when-off-sick-survey/
YouGov. "If a Person Is given The Day off Work Because They Are Physically Unwell, Do You Think It Is Acceptable or Unacceptable for Them to Do Each of The Following?." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Nov 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426795/uk-acceptable-tasks-to-do-when-off-sick-survey/
YouGov, If a person is given the day off work because they are physically unwell, do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for them to do each of the following? Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426795/uk-acceptable-tasks-to-do-when-off-sick-survey/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
If a person is given the day off work because they are physically unwell, do you think it is acceptable or unacceptable for them to do each of the following? [Graph], YouGov, November 15, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426795/uk-acceptable-tasks-to-do-when-off-sick-survey/
