- Presenteeism is when an employee is physically present but not engaged or productive.
- It costs US businesses three times more than absenteeism, leading to lost revenue and poor morale.
- Symptoms can include lethargy, mental health struggles, missed deadlines, and lack of productivity.
- Companies can combat presenteeism by encouraging self-care, promoting flexibility and transparency, implementing wellness policies, and endorsing open communication.
- Half of presenteeism and absenteeism are related to poor dental care, which can be addressed by partnering with a local implant dentistry service.
It is well known that absenteeism is challenging for any business, but have you ever heard of presenteeism? Presenteeism occurs when an employee comes to work despite feeling unwell or not performing at their best, and the cost to your business may surprise you. With presenteeism, employees may be physically present at work but are not engaged or productive. This phenomenon is costly for businesses and can lead to decreased productivity, poor morale, and increased healthcare costs. Here are some insights and possible solutions to help you identify and address presenteeism in the workplace.
The Cost of Presenteeism
According to reports, presenteeism costs US businesses about ten times as much as absenteeism. This is because employees who come to work despite being unwell or stressed are less productive and may not perform their duties effectively. Eventually, this can lead to missed deadlines, lost revenue, and decreased workplace morale. Moreover, presenteeism can cause physical and mental health issues for the employee that may require medical attention, increasing healthcare costs for employers.
Symptoms of Presenteeism
Presenteeism can manifest in many ways, even in healthy and hardworking employees. They may come to work feeling fatigued or lacking motivation and not perform at their best. Employees may sometimes have mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, that lead to presenteeism. Managers must be aware of and identify signs of presenteeism early on, such as missed deadlines, frequent absences, or lack of enthusiasm or productivity. Identifying and addressing these symptoms is key to minimizing the impacts of presenteeism.
Solutions For Presenteeism
Thankfully, there are various solutions for presenteeism. Here are some of them:
Encourage Self-Care
One of the steps in reducing presenteeism is to encourage self-care across the workplace. Self-care can help reduce overall burnout in a company, making it essential for everyone. For instance, companies can provide their employees with access to employee assistance programs, in which mental health support and resources are provided.
Aside from this, employers can create wellness initiatives like providing access to gym facilities and healthy food options and encouraging employees to take regular breaks. It may seem counterproductive at first, but employees who are well-rested, healthy, and happy tend to perform better and are more productive.
Promote Transparency and Flexibility
Another way to combat presenteeism is to promote transparency and flexibility in the workplace. Employees who feel comfortable sharing when they are not feeling their best are more likely to seek support and take the time they need to recuperate.
Managers need to lead by example by being transparent about their mental or physical health struggles. Providing flexible work schedules and remote work opportunities can also make a significant difference in reducing presenteeism. With the advent of technology, remote work is now easier than ever.
Implement a Workplace Wellness Policy
Companies should also consider implementing a Workplace Wellness Policy. Simply put, it is a document that outlines a company’s commitment to providing a healthy workplace culture. From promoting exercise to addressing emotional support needs for their employees, these policies can provide employees with a framework for how the company plans to reduce presenteeism. It can also make it easier for employees to ask for time off or request support.
Endorse Open Communication
Another solution is to endorse open communication within the workplace to promote a healthy culture. Employers must create an environment encouraging employees to be open about their health concerns. In addition, they should avoid a culture of shaming employees for taking time off or needing support. Instead, managers can praise employees for taking time off and prioritizing their well-being. This reinforces messages that taking time off to deal with personal or work-related issues is encouraged and appreciated.
Dental Care
Lastly, companies should emphasize dental care. Studies have found that half of the reasons for presenteeism and absenteeism are related to dental care, mainly because of gum pain, infection, and disease. One way to help deal with this is through dental implants. Contact a local implant dentistry service to help you out. You can partner with them to help your employees access dental care.
By implementing these strategies, you can reduce presenteeism and ensure that your business is a healthy and productive environment. Ultimately, it’s important to prioritize employee health and well-being to maximize productivity and efficiency while minimizing absenteeism and presenteeism. Doing so will benefit everyone in the long run and lead your company to success.