Staff who attend work when unwell face a greater risk of suffering a long-term absence at a later date, claims a new study. Researchers from the department of Occupational Medicine at Herning Hospital in Denmark questioned 12,000 members of the Danish workforce on the phenomenon known as ‘sickness presence’ (going to work despite ill health). The survey found that workers who had gone to work ill more than six times in a one year period had a 74% higher risk of taking sick leave for more than 2 months, compared with those who had avoided going to work when feeling unwell. Sickness presence has also been linked to coronary heart disease.