Workers are at risk of catching flu from colleagues who fear taking time off when they are ill, a new study has found.
One in three employees feel pressured to go into work even if they have the virus, despite 36 per cent saying they fret about an impending outbreak of new flu strains, according to the research.
More than half (54 per cent) of those who said they would still go into work claimed it was because bosses and co-workers would take them for shirkers.
The survey for The Co-operative Pharmacy also found one in five Scottish workers were unsure about the difference between a cold and the flu.
Professor John Oxford, virologist at Queen Mary University of London, said the study sends alarm bells ringing as winter approaches and recommended the use of vaccines to protect against the virus.
He said: “Employees are feeling confused about what to do when experiencing flu-like symptoms and under pressure to go to work like never before.
“This could lead to faster spread of the flu virus in warm, enclosed environments full of people such as a typical office - which will ultimately cost business more and of course impact on the nation’s health, which is why the flu vaccine is so important.”
Fiona Caplan-Dean, Clinical Services Manager at The Co-operative Pharmacy, said: “Although flu is a very common illness, it is highly infectious and in some vulnerable groups of people can develop into much more serious illnesses that can cause complications and even lead to death.
“Having a flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from flu but it can also help to protect your family, friends and work colleagues too.
“If you have flu you are unlikely to be able to out of bed.”Figures from 2010 showed that on average in Scotland, private sector workers took off 6.4 days sick each year. However, the figure for Scottish Executive staff was 7.7 days and for NHS workers 10.9 days.
According to the survey, men would be the worst culprits for spreading what they think is the virus, as more than two in five males (46 per cent) said they would continue to socialise if they had flu symptoms and almost half (48 per cent) would still go to the gym. This compares to one in three women (33 per cent) who would go out and meet friends despite suffering.
The research highlighted that one in five Scottish workers (22 per cent) are still unsure about the differences between colds and flu also believe that it is scare mongering when they hear that flu can kill – yet are worried about an impending outbreak.
Flu usually develops more quickly than a cold, with distinguishing symptoms including sudden fevers of 38-40C (100-104F), muscle aches and pains, headache, sweating and a feeling of exhaustion.
More than half of those questioned (58 per cent) believe that everyone should be offered the flu vaccination free to prevent an outbreak of the flu.
The poll also found that almost four in five of those questioned in Scotland (79 per cent) will not visit the doctor if they have flu, as they believe they won’t be given any treatment. For those who do visit their GP, almost two in five (39 per cent), wait between three and five days to go.
Almost one in six people (15 per cent) say this is because they don’t want to bother the doctor and almost the same amount of Scots are unable to get an appointment when they want one.