3 reasons an ‘unsick’ day would be good for you

You know how it is: You’re about to head out for a doctor appointment when your boss slides an assignment across your desk to be completed by end of day.

Do you really think you’re going to leave to get a physical or teeth cleaning?

All too often work gets in the way of your health. According to a new study from Zocdoc and Kelton Global, 86 per cent of respondents said they would cancel or reschedule a preventive care appointment due to workplace pressures. On top of that, a stunning 60 per cent actually feel uncomfortable leaving work for preventive care appointments, such as annual physicals, skin screenings, vision exams and dental cleanings.

But what if your company empowered you to take a day off to go to the doctor before you get sick? US-based Zocdoc launched a new initiative, called Unsick Days, to do just that. The company, along with founding partners Oscar, Buffer, Greatist, Sailthru and Foursquare, all announced plans to give Unsick Days to their employees in 2017.

Believe it or not, this could be great news for employers and workers alike. Here’s why.

Healthier work environment
Preventive care helps detect health issues early on and builds stronger relationships between patients and providers. Taking an Unsick Day, Zocdoc believes, will mean fewer actual sick days and a healthier, more productive workplace. As a 2015 Health Enhancement Research Organization survey found, more than 90 per cent of business leaders agree that promoting wellness can increase employee productivity and performance.

Higher retention rates
The Unsick Day initiative promotes a healthy work-life balance—a quality 69 per cent of job seekers crave, according to a Monster poll. So it’s no surprise to learn that nearly half (49 per cent) of employed respondents would be more likely to choose—or stay with—a company that offers time off for preventive care, according to the Zocdoc survey.

And with more companies fleshing out their benefits packages, flexibility is a near-must for employers to stay competitive with job seekers—look no further than the race between tech employers like Netflix and Google with their unlimited sick day policies.

Better allocation of assets
Due to the Affordable Care Act, the majority of working adults receive health insurance from their employer—but according to the Zocdoc survey, only one in four American workers use all of their preventive health benefits. This means companies are spending millions on benefits that aren’t even being used.

At no additional cost to employers, the Unsick Day initiative aims to fix that by putting the money you’re already spending to good use by encouraging workers to seek preventive care.

As the dreaded cold and flu season fast approaches, the long-term benefits to the Unsick Day just might save you down the road.

Contributed by Monster.com