The Unseen Sickness
Presenteeism is the act of attending work while sick. A topic that is at times considered its opposite, absenteeism, has historically received extensive attention in the management sciences, but presenteeism has only recently found a place in the research literature.
Presenteeism is a growing problem in the workforce. Researchers say that presenteeism—the problem of workers’ being on the job but, because of illness or other medical conditions, not fully functioning—can cut individual productivity by one-third or more. Ultimately this will cost the company more money in the long run.
The Effects of Employee Presenteeism in the Workplace
What are the Symptoms of Presenteeism?
The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health suggests that the proportion of sickness absence that can be attributed to mental health conditions could be as high as 44% and suggests that ‘in the absence of more detailed information’, a figure of 40% represents a good point to start from. These health conditions include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- ADHD
Can Presenteeism Really make much Difference in a Business?
Absolutely.
The American Productivity Audit – Stewart’s research team calculated that the total cost of presenteeism in the United States to be more than $150 billion per year. Furthermore, most studies confirm that presenteeism is far more costly than illness-related absenteeism or disability.
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