Poor health but not absent: prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of presenteeism

The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of presenteeism, to develop and test a model of the relationship between workplace factors and presenteeism, and to assess the perceived influence of manager, coworkers, and self on presenteeism.

We used survey data collected for 6309 employees from seven different organizations.

Nearly 60% of the sample reported presenteeism during a 3-month period. The model was supported, with presenteeism linking workplace factors and health outcomes to productivity, as predicted. The majority of participants (67%) indicated that the primary pressure to attend work while sick came from themselves. A substantial minority (20%) also indicated the manager as a source of pressure.

Psychosocial workplace factors are predictive of presenteeism, and efforts to control them, including the use of more effective management, may impact presenteeism rates and the resulting levels of productivity.