The rise of presenteeism in the workplace

In light of the discovery that one-in-five people ignore their doctor’s advice to stay at home when unwell, and just under a third are going to work when suffering from stress, anxiety or depression, Lucinda Pullinger, global head of HR at Instant Offices, explores the impact of presenteeism in the modern workplace

Presenteeism in the UK has more than tripled since 2010, with 86% of people observing it in the workplace last year compared to 26% just under a decade ago. In addition, according to the CIPD/Simplyhealth Health and Well-being at Work survey, ‘leavism’ – where people use annual leave to work – is also a growing problem, with more than two-thirds reporting that leavism has occurred in their organisations over the last year.

A global issue

Previously defined as ‘Showing up to work when one is ill’, the concept of ‘presenteeism’ has evolved to include a wide range of detrimental behaviours relating to how we work. These include employees who arrive early and stay late to show commitment, those who work during annual leave and those who respond to emails at all hours, mistaking an unhealthy attitude toward work as a strong work ethic – often to the detriment of their personal wellbeing.

Studies suggest that those who show up for work ill can be over 30% less productive than when they are well, and that the costs of presenteeism far outweigh those of illness-related absenteeism.

According to a report by Nottingham Business School, employees coming to work ill can cost a business £4,000 in lost business per employee, each year and, in the US, 56% of employers say presenteeism is a problem in their organisation, with burnout and low productivity 7.5 times greater with presenteeism than absenteeism.

What drives presenteeism?

Although figures from the ONS indicate that, in the past 25 years, sickness absence has steadily decreased, the pressure to turn up at work at all costs has significantly increased presenteeism, resulting in a toxic workplace culture in which no one wins. A report on presenteeism by the Institute of Employment Studies found some of the leading causes include:

Manager behaviour

Managers double-up as role models within a company and can significantly influence work culture. However, due to a sense of responsibility to their teams, managers can also be presenteeism culprits, and unknowingly put pressure on employees to act the same way.

Concern for colleagues

Studies show presenteeism is predominant in jobs where attendance influences other people. Employees are likely to go to work ill to avoid a colleague having to deal with an additional workload or pressure, especially in situations where there is no replacement.

Company culture

Studies have found perfect attendance to be seen as a sign of commitment to a job, while taking time off sick is seen as a sign of under-performance, particularly in the private sector. This kind of work ethic can be unknowingly perpetuated in an organisation by senior managers and long-time employees.

Job stress

In the UK, 44% of stress or depression is caused by a high workload, yet almost half of managers are not trained on managing mental health problems. When it comes to stress and presenteeism, the correlation between the two is high, and employees who feel unsure about their job security are more likely to show up when ill.

Combating presenteeism in the workplace

Increase focus on wellness

Being able to support and manage employees with health and mental health issues, and having perks tailored to encourage a healthier and happier workplace culture can boost employee satisfaction and productivity.

Encourage senior members to lead by example

By managing their own absence and presence, and encouraging a healthy work-life balance, line managers and senior members of staff can act as better role models for the organisation, inspiring their teams to do the same.

Enable flexibility

Employees who can adjust their working hours and environments, particularly if they have a health condition, are less likely to fall into the cycle of presenteeism. By offering options such as flexible working or hours, employees can feel more in control and still maintain their work levels.

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