Presenteeism

The #1 Illness Pervading Organizations

Jul 12, 2007 Deborah S. Hildebrand

Presenteeism isn't new, it's just increasing. And for employers and employees alike it is causing a major impact on productivity, morale and the bottomline.

Presenteeism is a concept that has been around for years, yet not many people have heard of the term or link it to illness. However, that is exactly what it is all about.

The opposite of absenteeism, presenteeism is a common practice of sick employees who should stay home and get well going to work and very likely infecting their co-workers. The end result is that the ill employee does not get well and may need to take time off anyway. Not to mention the number of co-workers who may wind up requiring time off, too.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like this phenomenon will be changing anytime soon as recent figures indicate that presenteeism is on the rise, up from 39% in 2004 to 56% in 2006.

Now while the rationale for showing up for work when ill varies with the individual, the three primary reasons typically cited are

• Can’t afford to take time off
• Fear that things won’t get done in their absence
• Don’t want to miss out on what’s going on at work

And while everyone has their own reason for not wanting to stay home, coming to work ill and spreading germs is ultimately harmful to both employees and employers. History shows that employees who come to work sick are less productive and negatively impact employee morale as well as the bottom line. Research shows that presenteeism may account for as much as 60% of employer health costs.

So here are some suggestions for both employees and employers to consider when working to curb presenteeism.

Employers should:

• Take a close look at the levels of absenteeism and presenteeism within their organization and determine how both these issues affect productivity, morale and the bottom line.
• Consider providing minimal sick leave benefits or allowing employees to use accrued, paid vacation days.
• Not penalize employees or require disciplinary action for using paid sick time.
• Develop a positive work environment and company culture in which employees don’t abuse paid time off plans.
• Increase employee knowledge and awareness of health issues especially during cold and flu season.

Employees should:

• Consider the impact on the rest of the team when choosing to go to work ill.
• Consider whether taking one day off now will reduce the chances of having to take more days off later.
• Ask their employer about using paid vacation days when unexpected illness absolutely requires home rest.
• Take advantage of any company sponsored health services, benefits or events.
• Educate themselves about living healthier: eat right, get plenty of exercise and sleep, and take care of themselves at the first sign of a cold.

The copyright of the article Presenteeism in Business Management is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish Presenteeism in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Illness