Presenteeism: Feeling Pressured to Work While Sick Is Costing Billions – Study

New research led by University of South Florida Assistant Professor of Psychology Claire Smith reveals that many employees feel compelled to work when they’re sick, resulting in reduced productivity, negative workplace behaviors such as theft and mistreatment of colleagues, and a greater desire to leave their jobs.

According to Smith and her fellow researchers from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, this phenomenon, called “presenteeism,” costs businesses up to $150 billion each year, as noted by the Harvard Business Review.

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Study Findings

The study, recently published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology (citation below), presents the following key insights based on multiple studies involving four different groups:

• Presenteeism Pressure

Although missing work due to illness (absenteeism) impacts productivity, going to work while unwell (presenteeism) is even more costly. The study introduces the idea of “presenteeism pressure,” where employees feel obligated to attend work no matter their condition.

To better understand this pressure, the researchers developed the Presenteeism Pressure Scale to assess how prevalent this expectation is in workplaces.

• Impact of Workplace Culture

In a survey of 764 workers, many reported that they felt pressure from their workplace to come to work while sick. It wasn’t just personal motivation that drove them—it was the workplace culture that made working while unwell seem like the norm.

• Negative Perception of Employers

When employees experience presenteeism pressure, they tend to view their organization in a negative light, feeling that their well-being is not a priority. This has been confirmed by data collected from more than 800 employees across various industries, which also showed reduced job satisfaction and commitment.

• Effects on Productivity and Retention

The study also highlighted that when workers are pressured to come in while sick, it leads to harmful effects, including decreased productivity, deviant behaviors, and an increased desire to quit. Data from 350 employees tracked over three months supported these findings, demonstrating the heavy financial toll of encouraging sick employees to remain at work.

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Citation

Smith, C. E., McAbee, S. T., Freier, L., Huang, S., & Albert, M. A. (2024). Presenteeism pressure: The development of a scale and a nomological network. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12542