New research reveals the unseen health issues across sectors  

New research from workplace health specialists Lime Health reveals that 68% of workers in the food and drinks industry feel pressure to conceal illness at work, with over one in three saying they do so regularly.  

The findings highlight the growing problem of pleasanteeism, the pressure employees feel to appear “fine” despite physical or mental ill-health.  

While presenteeism describes working while unwell, pleasanteeism goes further: it reflects the need to actively hide illness, delaying support and increasing long-term risk for both workers and employers.  

Financial pressures are the main reason food and drink staff hide illness, cited by 53% of respondents, followed by concerns that management would not understand (21%) and fear of stigma, which was reported by 20%.  

Those working in the food and drinks sector were most likely to cite money worries as their main concern followed by retail workers (44%).   

Lime’s wider research shows pleasanteeism is rising across the UK workforce overall, affecting 69% of employees, up from 51% in 2021.  

Commenting on the findings, Shaun Williams, Founder and CEO of Lime Health, said:  

“It is deeply concerning, though not surprising, to see pleasanteeism rise from just over half of the workforce to nearly 70% in only a few years.  

“The food and drinks sector accounts for over 10% of the UK workforce so it is especially concerning to see such high levels of pleasanteeism in this industry.”   

He adds: “This kind of hidden ill-health is largely invisible to employers, yet it has a very real impact on performance, engagement and long-term workforce sustainability. 

“Creating a positive workplace culture where staff members feel empowered to make positive decisions around their health will help to boost employee satisfaction, engagement and retention.” 

 

 

 

Lime Health was founded in 2012 with a simple belief: healthcare should be fairer, clearer, and accessible to the many, not the few. Lime Health partners with benefit advisers to bring Health Essentials and their closed-loop ecosystem to life, equipping employees with everyday healthcare, giving employers visibility into absence drivers and health risks, and enabling targeted interventions where they’re needed most. 

Pleasanteeism is a term coined by Lime Health to describe the pressure employees feel to appear well at work despite experiencing physical or mental ill-health. Unlike absenteeism, pleasanteeism captures the hidden productivity loss and health risk created when people continue working while unwell and delay seeking support. 

Lime Health first identified and defined pleasanteeism in national workforce research conducted in 2021.