Search
 
Best Practices

3 ways to reduce presenteeism and improve productivity

Each year, employers lose an average of $255 in productivity per employee to presenteeism.

By Steve Horvath | Updated on March 06, 2018
Distracted employee Impaired employees are more apt to make mistakes, miss deadlines, or in worst case scenarios, cause accidents on the job. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Each year, employers lose an average of $255 in productivity per employee to something called “presenteeism,” according to a 2004 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Multiply that number by your entire workforce and your business may be facing significant losses. But what is presenteeism, and how is it robbing your employees of so much productivity?

There’s no one agreed-upon definition, though in 2004, Paul Hemp wrote in the Harvard Business Review that it is “the problem of workers’ being on the job but, because of illness or other medical conditions, not fully functioning.” In many ways, it is a stealthier version of absenteeism, when workers simply do not show up. But unlike employee absences, which are easily checked and recorded, employees who are ill, distracted, or depressed may still show up at work, though their productivity is reduced, and go through the motions of their jobs. These impaired employees are more apt to make mistakes, miss deadlines, or in worst case scenarios, cause accidents on the job.

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Recommended Stories

BenefitsPRO

Join BenefitsPRO

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to navigate the shifting employee benefits industry. Join BenefitsPRO.com now!

  • Unlimited access to BenefitsPRO.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on BenefitsPRO.com and ALM events.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join BenefitsPRO

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.