Presenteeism is a growing problem in the workplace and employers should take note. It occurs when an employee is at work but not fully productive due to a health condition, whether mental or physical, diagnosed or undiagnosed.

The Society for Human Resource Management reports the cost of presenteeism has now surpassed that of absenteeism, costing businesses more than $180 billion each year, while the cost of absenteeism is $118 billion each year.

Mental health issues are largely to blame for the rising costs of presenteeism. More time at work is lost due to mental illness than many other physical chronic conditions, and the Partnership for Workplace Mental Health reports that depression and anxiety can account for two lost hours of productivity each workday. One's mental health may also be affected by physical health problems, such as diabetes and obesity, indirectly causing the cost of presenteeism to dramatically rise and surpass costs incurred from absenteeism.