The influence of the physical work environment on presenteeism: A theoretical exploration

BackgroundPresenteeism, defined as attending work despite reduced functional capacity, has been widely studied in occupational health and organizational research. However, the role of the physical work environment remains underexplored and inconsistently integrated into dominant conceptual models.ObjectiveThis integrative review examines the role of the physical work environment in presenteeism in knowledge-intensive workplaces, while considering organizational structures and health-related resources, and synthesizes these relationships into a unified theoretical framework.MethodsA structured search and synthesis procedure was conducted across five databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar), yielding 28 articles that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Studies were synthesized using thematic and comparative analysis across three domains: physical environmental exposures, organizational conditions, and individual psychological factors.ResultsEnvironmental exposures, including noise, air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, and ergonomics, are linked to reduced work functioning alongside attendance norms, job demands, and resource depletion. Presenteeism emerges from the combined influence of workplace context and individual capacity, with impaired functioning contributing to further resource depletion over time. The review presents the Integrated Multifactor Framework of Presenteeism (IMFP), which organizes these relationships into a coherent theoretical framework.ConclusionsThe IMFP extends existing models by incorporating the physical environment as a structural input and specifying a recursive feedback process between outcomes and resource depletion. The framework provides a theoretical foundation for future empirical investigation and targeted workplace interventions to reduce presenteeism.