In the corporate wellness field, we spend a lot of time trying to keep employees healthy. But what to do when they’re sick…
According to our friends over at HR Benefits Alert, the practice of “ presenteeism ”—employees showing up to work sneezing, coughing or otherwise not feeling well—has become a major issue in the workplace.
Not only are these folks unproductive, but they also put co-workers at risk—all of which ends up costing a lot more than just taking a day off.
The blog cites a
recent workplace wellness survey by LifeCare , which found that 93 percent of employees admit that they come to work when they’re sick enough to stay home. Reasons include:
- fear of letting other people down; worrying that taking time off is too risky, in terms of office politics or culture
- and saving up sick days for child or eldercare emergencies or extra vacation.
Given all of this, I think it makes sense to address the issue of “
presenteeism ” in your corporate wellness program, in some way. Education is a great start—you just can’t say “stay home if you’re sick” frequently enough! We've done some work with "no-fault absence" policies. Give us a call if you'd like to know more.
Not only are these folks unproductive, but they also put co-workers at risk—all of which ends up costing a lot more than just taking a day off.
The blog cites a recent workplace wellness survey by LifeCare , which found that 93 percent of employees admit that they come to work when they’re sick enough to stay home. Reasons include:
- fear of letting other people down; worrying that taking time off is too risky, in terms of office politics or culture
- and saving up sick days for child or eldercare emergencies or extra vacation.
Given all of this, I think it makes sense to address the issue of “ presenteeism ” in your corporate wellness program, in some way. Education is a great start—you just can’t say “stay home if you’re sick” frequently enough! We've done some work with "no-fault absence" policies. Give us a call if you'd like to know more.