logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2022
16m 47s

Has hybrid working made it harder to tak...

Financial Times
About this episode

This week, host Isabel Berwick is joined by Emma Jacobs, author of one of the Financial Times’s most read features on the workplace this year: “The end of sick days: has WFH made it harder to take time off?” Along with fellow Working It regular Brooke Masters, the FT’s US investment and industries editor, they discuss why we are taking fewer sick days than ever, with more of us choosing to work through sickness. Is it a practice managers should ever encourage? They also consider readers’ and listeners’ perspectives on sick leave – has WFH, and the prospect of missing a long commute, made us more likely to call in sick? And is the growing honesty in workplaces around mental health and wellbeing changing the way we think about our need to take time off work for rest and recovery? 

 

Want more? 

 

Emma Jacobs’ hit FT article on sick leave 

https://www.ft.com/content/bc9e39ce-8762-4e70-8aa2-2e33b23b80fe

 

Results of a big FT reader survey on attitudes to work and return to the office, including sick leave 

https://www.ft.com/content/b5b9af97-3193-4dd6-bcb8-894ba7846e0e

 

FT columnist Sarah O’Connor explores punitive sick leave rules https://www.ft.com/content/8a5bccb5-ba86-4a0c-9777-d1283945106d

 

US retailers under pressure to disclose sick leave policies

https://www.ft.com/content/b190494e-fa0c-4b52-9f18-cf838e15ab72


FT subscriber? Sign up for the weekly Working It newsletter. We cover all things workplace and management — plus exclusive reporting on trends, tips and 

what’s coming next. One-click sign-up at www.ft.com/newsletters


We love to hear from you. What do you like (or not)? What topics should we tackle? Email the team at workingit@ft.com or Isabel directly at isabel.berwick@ft.com. Follow @isabelberwick on Twitter 


Subscribe to Working It wherever you get your podcasts — and do leave us a review!


Presented by Isabel Berwick. Editorial direction from Renée Kaplan and Manuela Saragosa. Assistant producer is Persis Love. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. Produced by Novel.


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jan 2025
Finale: How work has changed since we started this show
After more than three years, and 153 episodes, this is the final Working It podcast. Isabel Berwick gathers three colleagues (and friends) to discuss what they’ve learned about the world of work since the show first launched. So please, if you will, join Isabel, Andrew Hill, Emma ... Show More
26m 25s
Jan 2025
Why being a CEO is so lonely (and how to fix that)
Running a business is rewarding in plenty of ways – not least in terms of salary. But it can also be extremely lonely. Having friends at work becomes complicated (or even impossible), and you can’t be sure if people like you, or if they’re just saying what they think you want to ... Show More
15m 3s
Jan 2025
The science of better workplace conversations
What can we learn about the way we speak by analysing thousands of everyday conversations? That’s a question that fascinates Alison Wood Brooks. Alison, an associate professor at Harvard Business School, and author of the forthcoming book, Talk: The Science of Conversation and th ... Show More
17m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2021
Will Ford change his tune? The fight over sick pay in Ontario
Public health officials, city mayors and small businesses have called for it: paid sick leave. It has been cited as a factor that’s been proven to slow the spread of COVID-19 — without the protection of paid sick leave, employees often feel forced to go to work even while sick an ... Show More
14m 21s
Feb 2021
Joanne Lipman: Job Stress, She-cessions, Pandemic Parenting + Workplace Wellness
Leading functional medicine expert, Dr. Will Cole sits down with former editor-in-chief of USA Today, and bestselling author of the pivotal book That's What She Said: What Men and Women Need To Know About Working Together. There’s no man-bashing here; here we explore how men as w ... Show More
53m 44s
Jan 2025
Returning to Social Work after a break or time away
It's return to work week for so many of us after a December break, although I know that social workers usually work duty rotas as an unrecognised emergency service during this time! If you are heading back to the office (or virtual office) after a break or time off then here ... Show More
18m 32s
Mar 2021
Have We Learned Nothing? Systemic Gender Biases, Double Standards, Mental and Physical Dangers Affecting Women in the Workplace - with Hannah Piterman (Ep 72)
Gender bias, double standards, mental and physical dangers affecting women in the workplace are nothing new, which is precisely the issue. In many ways, the COVID pandemic has highlighted challenges and opportunities for women in the workplace. In preparation for IWD2021, I invit ... Show More
1h 26m
Oct 2023
Give Up Sick Days? Young Workers Say No Way
In the past, many workers viewed not taking sick days as a badge of honor. But now WSJ reporter Te-Ping Chen tells host J.R. Whalen people are taking more sick time, and they’re taking time off for reasons other than feeling unwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho ... Show More
10m 14s
Sep 2024
297: What it's really like to go on parental leave as a designer
Femke shares her experience navigating the challenges of parental leave, including her decision to take extended time off supported by her employer and Canadian government benefits. She reflects on the challenges of staying connected with the design industry while on parental lea ... Show More
27m 16s
Aug 2024
319: The Hidden Reason Why People Are Unhappy at Work with Dr. Tessa West
Are you or your team members feeling unhappy at work? When discussing job dissatisfaction, people often point to issues like job title or compensation. However, we frequently overlook the fact that humans have complex emotions, and sometimes, we struggle to express what we truly ... Show More
30m 59s
Sep 2024
996: Tackling Work Stressors and Transitions with Dr. Tessa West
Tessa West shares her method for making the necessary changes that lead to greater job satisfaction.  — YOU’LL LEARN — 1) How your body tells you when it’s time to change jobs 2) How to not be overwhelmed by the stresses at work 3) The hidden curriculum that helps you succeed at ... Show More
45m 40s
Apr 10
E26 - Work Place & Your Mental Health
On this episode of the Break the Psycle podcast, we dive into the vital connection between your workplace and your mental health. From unsafe work situations to lack of fulfillment, the environment we work in can have a profound impact on how we feel. But here’s the good news—it’ ... Show More
39m 22s