Presenteeism

Presenteeism

I believe this is the opposite of absenteeism. This is when people are ill but still turn up to work to reduce productivity. It costs Australia $6billion. http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/jobs/presenteeism-is-the-new-workplace-problem/story-e6freqo6-1225846154602 

Hold on, its not a peculiarly Australian problem. We have it too. 20% of NHS staff have reported coming to work even when they are ill. http://www.nhshealthandwellbeing.org/pdfs/Interim%20Report%20Appendices/Staff%20Perception%20Survey%20%28Quantitative%29.pdf Before you pat yourself on the back on some perceived altruism or hyper-sincerity, please remember that in the insurance business 45% of staff come to work when they are ill http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2010/04/16/55251/presenteeism-at-axa-ppp-more-problematic-than-sickness-absence-report-finds.html .

Its not just the people who are off sick who decrease productivity; people who are at work but who should not be, also reduce productivity. Please share your view on how you deal with this issue in your place of work. I wonder if the recent sickness counselors we have appointed in the NHS will identify persons who should not be there and send them home to rest properly!