Economics

Millions of Americans Are Calling In Sick, Stunting the Recovery

  • Number of workers absent because of illness is close to record
  • Absenteeism poses a growing challenge for manufacturing sector
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Amid the surge in the ranks of the unemployed during the pandemic, another crucial problem in the labor market has gone mostly overlooked: Workers are calling out sick in record numbers this year.

Whether it’s because they have Covid-19 themselves, are worried about getting it or are taking care of someone who already has it, the number of workers who’ve missed days on the job has doubled in the pandemic.