Almost a quarter of the workforce (24%) went to work in January even though they believed they were too ill.

More than half (57%) of employees have gone to work when too ill in the past year and only 12% have never gone to work when too ill, according to the TUC and YouGov which carried out the poll.

More than a quarter (28%) went to work because they felt their colleagues depended on them and 18% did not want to let their employer down.

Three million people (13%) of the workforce cannot afford to lose pay and 6% worry their boss will take action against them for absence.

Nearly three out of 10 (29%) claim the recession will make them more likely to go to work when ill.