You Need to Take an 'Unsick' Day

Wouldn’t it be great to go the doctor for a check-up or to the dentist for a cleaning without stressing about taking time off to do so? Online health and appointment platform Zocdoc wants to make that a reality.

The appointment scheduling site is urging employers nationwide to give Americans a dedicated day off to get preventative care without facing consequences at work—an “unsick” day. Zocdoc itself, along with 10 other companies including Foursquare, Virgin Hotels and Buffer, have already given their employees “unsick” days to use in 2017.

Zocdoc found that Americans aren’t taking care of themselves. In fact, 86% of Americans say they’d cancel or delay a check-up with their doctor due to workplace pressure, according to a recent survey commissioned by the company. And only one in four employees used all of their preventative healthcare benefits.

Encouraging employees to take preventative steps to keep healthy benefits everyone. Employees who take the time to get check-ups stay healthier and boost workplace productivity. And Zocdoc’s survey found nearly half of American workers say they’re more likely to stay with a company that offers time off for preventive care.

"As a nation, we often neglect our health when we're well. But with seven in 10 U.S. deaths related to preventable diseases, empowering Americans to utilize preventive care services is critical," Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association.

Over half of employees say they would be more likely to go to their preventive care appointments if their managers or employers encouraged it.

For those who do not have workplace-sponsored health plans, open enrollment for 2017 coverage through a marketplace healthcare plan begins on November 1, 2016 and ends on January 31, 2017.