Yahoo Finance Why millions of Aussies are calling in sick to work
Max Karelis is one of the millions of Aussies who experience gut problems and he says it’s impacted his work life.
Millions of Aussies are calling in sick to work, and missing out on valuable income, for one common reason - their gut.
More than half (53 per cent) of Aussies with IBS or persistent gut health symptoms say they have called in sick to work due to their stomach issues.
This could be coming at a hefty cost, with sick days estimated to cost the Australian economy as much as $24 billion in lost productivity last year.
Around a quarter said they had faced challenges in their work or career due to their symptoms, the survey of 1,009 Aussies by gut health supplement JUVIA found.
Max Karelis is one of the many Aussies who experience gut problems, including stomach pain, and irregular bowel habits.
It’s an issue that is estimated to affect half of all Aussie adults, with one in five experiencing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) at some point in their life.
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“For me, it’s more certain foods that I eat that might cause cramping, bloating or having to constantly go to the toilet more often than the typical person would,” Max told Yahoo Finance, noting that carbs, mushrooms, red meat and pork were common triggers.
“There’s also just pain in general every now and then … Even if I watch what I eat, I can improve my symptoms, but they’re still there, even just a little bit.”
The 22-year-old has been working in hospitality for the past four years and will soon start a job in a hospital.
While he hadn’t had to call in sick for work just yet, the Perth local said his gut issues had had an impact on his work in the past.
“I’ve definitely visited the toilet more frequently. It might mean that I have to ask to have my break earlier or split it into two parts, so I can time it well,” Max said.
Gut health affecting everyday life
Beyond work, Aussies are also turning down sex (36 per cent), beer (22 per cent) and holidays (23 per cent) due to their tummy troubles.
Functional nutritionist Jo Grabyn said IBS was the most common gut health condition in Australia, with symptoms ranging from “moderate to debilitating”.
“Despite the potential burden of the condition, many people seeking treatment for their symptoms face challenges in both daily life and getting real help to improve their symptoms,” Grabyn said.
“One in six people say they have experienced stigma related to others’ views, or misunderstandings of how gut issues can impact so many areas of their day-to-day life.”
‘Not spoken enough about’
Max said there was still a stigma around gut issues and he had found people didn’t take him seriously in the past.
“It’s not a topic that is spoken enough about and so it is a little bit foreign to people,” he said.
“If you were to mention your gut issues or having to go to the toilet, some people might find it humorous rather than serious.
“It doesn’t make you feel any less but it means you might not be able to be fully honest to explain what is going on.”
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