(Germany) "An epidemic alarm plan has been established, for pandemics, ... the more the topic is discussed, the more aware each person becomes... for example in emergency admissions, we have inspected the premises and doors, which have to be plastered up in urgent cases [...] but I can't envisage it leading to any kind of constant surveillance system, I mean what would they be reporting the whole time?" Appendix 3. Healthcare workers' perception of illness and sickness-related absence Barriers towards reporting: Perceptions of HCWs' health (Hungary): "Staff health has a lower importance, but this obviously depends on the given staff (occupational) health unit, how well organised it is, how much the employees can rely on it." (UK) "Is that because we all are a bit unsympathetic to our own needs as staff? We're very sympathetic to patients but probably to our own staff, we're not very good, we don't probably listen to them and think...like I've just said we think they're lying."