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We’ve all done it: gone to work even though we feel horrible and will probably not get anything done. Even though we hate it when a co-worker comes in sick, and we understand that we won’t get better if we head into work sick, we still continue to do.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) have uncovered the primary reasons why we still go to work when we are sick, including high job-demand, job stress and job insecurity.
The research aims to show employers the growing trend of presenteeism – going to work while sick – and what can be done to help boost an employee’s health and productivity.
The researchers found that presenteeism stems from ill health, stress, and raised motivation. This may have employees going that “extra mile,” which not only makes them work more intensely, but even head into work when they are sick.
The strongest link to presenteeism is the severity of organizational policies used to monitor or reduce staff absences. Examples of this are limited paid sick days, job insecurity and taking disciplinary action.
Previous research on presenteeism showed that it has negative and positive effects on employee productivity and welfare. Presenteeism is linked with an increase in errors, productivity loss and lower performance. In the UK, presenteeism cost the medical system £15.1 billion a year just for mental health.
Lead author, Dr. Mariella Miraglia, said, “This study sheds light on the controversial act of presenteeism, uncovering both positive and negative underlying processes. It demonstrates that presenteeism is associated with work features and personal characteristics and not only dictated by medical conditions, in contrast to the main perspective of occupational medicine and epidemiology.”
Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) have uncovered the primary reasons why we still go to work when we are sick, including high job-demand, job stress and job insecurity.
The research aims to show employers the growing trend of presenteeism – going to work while sick – and what can be done to help boost an employee’s health and productivity.
The researchers found that presenteeism stems from ill health, stress, and raised motivation. This may have employees going that “extra mile,” which not only makes them work more intensely, but even head into work when they are sick.
The strongest link to presenteeism is the severity of organizational policies used to monitor or reduce staff absences. Examples of this are limited paid sick days, job insecurity and taking disciplinary action.
Previous research on presenteeism showed that it has negative and positive effects on employee productivity and welfare. Presenteeism is linked with an increase in errors, productivity loss and lower performance. In the UK, presenteeism cost the medical system £15.1 billion a year just for mental health.
Lead author, Dr. Mariella Miraglia, said, “This study sheds light on the controversial act of presenteeism, uncovering both positive and negative underlying processes. It demonstrates that presenteeism is associated with work features and personal characteristics and not only dictated by medical conditions, in contrast to the main perspective of occupational medicine and epidemiology.”
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