Employees working in construction have taken more time off work due to serious injuries sustained on the job than almost any other industry.
According to research commissioned by insurance company There, 38% of construction workers had been forced to take time off due to injury compared to the average of just 19% across other industries. The only sector to rank higher is transport at 47%.
Of those asked, 30% of construction sector workers had been off work for a month or more, with loss of income believed to be the biggest impact. In addition, almost a third (28%) were concerned they wouldn’t be able to pay the bills if off work for a month or more.
Despite this fear, the research found that only one in six of respondents have any financial protection insurance.
Philippa McLaglen, marketing manager from There, said: “Our research shows that construction is a hard working industry that feels the pressure when having to take time off work and doesn’t do so lightly.”
The survey’s findings suggest that workers’ attitudes change when taking time off due to illness instead of injury. It claims that out of the 20 industries researched, construction was the fourth highest ranked at viewing illness and time off as weakness.
This may explain why 40% of respondents from the construction industry admitted to dreading the call to their boss to tell them they are sick. A quarter even admitted to putting on a ‘sick voice’, with a higher number (27%) revealing they have had a parent or partner phone on their behalf.
Ms. McLaglen added: “It’s ironic that we worry about taking even one day off sick when so many of us have experienced what it’s like to be laid up and not able to work for a month or more. That situation can have a very real financial impact if wages aren’t coming in. Especially for people who are self employed and don’t have a financial safety net.
