Cost of Presenteeism Surpasses Absenteeism

The cost of presenteeism has now surpassed theto other employees in the workplace. These newly
cost of absenteeism. Presenteeism, which refers toinfected employees will elect to deal with their illness
sick employees who come to work instead of stayingthrough either absenteeism or presenteeism.
at home, now surpasses $180 billion annually.A likely culprit in the increase of presenteeism is a lack
Absenteeism, where the employee does not report toof "no-fault" sick time. No-fault sick time refers to
work, costs $118 billion annually and medical expensesallowing employees to take their sick time without
and lost productivity.having to provide an explanation of why the time is
Employee "illness" can be grouped into five differenttaken. This reduces the amount of presenteeism as
categories. The Society for Human Resourceemployees no longer feel they must act sick to qualify
Management (SHRM) breaks down the impact in thisfor a sick day. However once an employee begins to
way:run out of sick time, or is only allowed minimal sick time
1. Personal illnesses account for 35%during the year, presenteeism becomes a manner of
2. Family issues make up 21%choice when dealing with the five areas identified by
3. Personal needs combine for 18%SHRM.
4. An entitlement mentality accounts for 14%According to Multicultural Business Council (MBC), a
5. Stress makes up the final 12%cultural empowerment organization based near Detroit,
The SHRM figures refer to absenteeism alone,Michigan, absenteeism policies are creating specific
therefore may not be applicable in the samecultures within the larger corporate culture. When an
percentages to presenteeism. However someemployee changes jobs from a company that has a
presenteeism will fall in each of the categories. Thisrestrictive absenteeism policy to a company with a
occurs when, for example, an employee has familyless restrictive absenteeism policy, they will quickly
issues to deal with however they do not feel the entirelearn to adapt to the new culture. However,
day needs to be taken off of work. They will makeemployees moving in the opposite direction, from less
the necessary phone calls to resolve the family issuesrestrictive to more restrictive absenteeism policies will
on company time. In the case of the entitlementtake longer to adopt to the culture of the company.
mentality, when employees see other employeesIt seems an entitlement mentality is a key player as
taking long lunches or breaks or making personalemployees look at sick pay policies at their company
phone calls on company time they feel they are alsoversus the policies at companies have previously
entitled to do the same.worked with or have friends or family working for.
It is important to note that in some cases presenteeismUnderstanding the motivational factors of a team of
contributes to the cost of absenteeism. This occursemployees can reduce the negative impact from
when an employee is contagious and spreads germspresenteeism and absenteeism.