Research from Lime Health has found nearly seven in ten UK employees are pretending to be well at work when they are not – a sharp increase from 51 per cent reported in 2021.
The findings highlight a significant escalation in pleasanteeism, the pressure employees feel to appear ‘fine’ at work despite physical or mental ill-health, and suggest the issue is becoming increasingly embedded in workplace culture. In total, 34 per cent of employees say they often or always pretend to be well, rising to 69 per cent when those who sometimes do so are included.
Employees cited money worries (49 per cent), a lack of understanding from management (26 per cent), and negative stigma around health (19 per cent) as the main reasons for concealing health concerns in the workplace.
Commenting on the findings, Shaun Williams, Founder and CEO of Lime Health, said:
“It’s deeply concerning, though not surprising, to see pleasanteeism rise from just over half of the workforce to nearly 70 per cent in only a few years. When so many people feel compelled to hide how they’re really feeling at work, it tells us the issue isn’t simply absence, it’s what’s happening while people are still present.
“This kind of unseen health strain is largely invisible to employers, yet it has a very real impact on performance, engagement and long-term workforce sustainability.”
The research also reveals the tangible productivity consequences of pleasanteeism. Sixty-one per cent of employees admit their performance declines when working while unwell, while more than a third of HR leaders (36 per cent) say addressing hidden health challenges is now their top workforce priority.
The findings also point to a growing challenge for employers: while awareness of the problem is increasing, confidence in how to address it is not. Many organisations still lack meaningful data and visibility into workforce health, making it difficult to understand what is driving risk, assess which interventions are effective, or invest with confidence.
As a result, hidden ill-health often manifests in rising absence, disengagement, increased retention risk and broader workforce instability, outcomes that employers can feel, but struggle to measure or address at an early stage.
At a national level, the economic impact is substantial. UK Government estimates suggest ill health and lost productivity cost the economy £85 billion each year, with pleasanteeism alone accounting for an estimated £21 billion in lost output.
Williams added: “What this research makes clear is that employers aren’t ignoring workforce health, and in fact, many are actively trying to address it. The real challenge is the lack of clear, actionable insight into what’s actually working.
“Without better data and earlier visibility of risk, organisations are left playing catch up. That’s why we’re seeing a growing need for workforce health to be treated as an integrated system, one that connects insight, prevention and access to care in a more joined-up way, before issues escalate into absence, attrition or long-term ill health.”
The research was conducted by Censuswide in partnership with Lime Health. It surveyed 1,000 UK employees and 500 HR decision-makers across sectors including retail, education, hospitality, construction, and food & drink.
