Do your employees come into work while not physically or mentally well enough to do so, instead of staying at home and recuperating? While it might seem commendable for a dedicated employee to show up despite not feeling well, this practice, known as presenteeism can contribute significantly to burnout.
If the pandemic has taught us anything about work, it's that we don't need to be pulling long hours in an office to be productive.
At some point, all employees will encounter a mental or physical illness. And depending on the severity of it, they may need time off to fully recover. Yet, it’s very common for some employees to come to work or working from home despite being unwell. Whilst this might be commendable, it can do more harm than good to a business.
In 2022, a mental health report by Deloitte found that turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism in the workplace cost the UK economy £53-56 billion last year. The main contributing factor to this figure is presenteeism, meaning there is an urgency for employers to act.
Do your staff feel pressure to come in to work when not well, or work regular overtime, worrying their boss or colleagues might think they are not working hard enough if they take time out or simply leave on time?
Is it right that sick people drag themselves into the office or to their home workstation; it can create a toxic environment that leads to overwork, as people putting in long hours adds pressure on everyone else to do the same.
Presenteeism and Mental Health
It’s important to consider the link between presenteeism and mental health. Employers must recognise the importance of working in good health and maintain this during work hours.
If not, the causes of presenteeism can lead to depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions. According to a CIPD report, 47% of employees surveyed continued to work despite their poor mental health and believed they’d benefit from time off.
As well as saving money in the short and long term, managing presenteeism can eliminate business impacts. Through this, you’ll be able to develop an engaging and healthy workforce. Presenteeism and productivity go hand in hand. If employees take time off when they need it, it saves businesses big costs in the long run.
How can you tackle the issue?
With adequate workplace support for mental health, presenteeism levels will decline. This is where effectively training and utilising Mental Health First Aiders in the workplace, and putting in an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) comes in.
EAPs provide wellbeing support, counselling, and financial information to support staff during tough times.
To find out more about how you can start to make a difference, call one of our consultants today on 01793 311937.
Credit: Health Assured EAP: healthassured.org
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The content of our blogs is intended for general information and not to replace legal or other professional advice.
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