A timely article from CNNMoney.com – ‘Presenteeism’ infects businesses. Timely in that some super bug has made it’s way through Select Metrix which has knocked yours truly down this week. For some background on this phenomenon:
“presenteeism,” or going to work when sick, is a persistent problem at more than half of U.S. workplaces and costs U.S. business a whopping $180 billion a year, research shows.
Think of it as the opposite of absenteeism.
Let’s cut to the chase on the whole issue:
As often as two-thirds of the time, sick people go to work because they feel they have too much work to do, according to the CCH study.
And later:
“With corporate downsizings of the past creating a leaner workforce, employees often feel they have to show up for work, whether it’s out of guilt over staying home or concerns over job security,” Gorovsky said.
The incredible increase in productivity does have some downside (though presenteeism seems fairly minor).