Have you ever sat next to someone at work who is unwell, either through illness or injury, and thought to yourself, “Wow...I really don’t think they should have come in today?” If so, you’ve experienced the workplace phenomenon that is presenteeism.
You may have even been that co-worker at one time or another. And while you perhaps view your actions as admirable, showing up to work when you’re sick, injured, or otherwise unable to do your job is actually a sign of a darker undercurrent plaguing today’s work environment.
Let’s take a dive into presenteeism—what it is, why it’s a problem (for starters, it’s one of the leading causes of employee unproductivity), and, most importantly, how to better manage it.
What is Presenteeism?
Presenteeism is when employees show up to work when they’re unwell and not able to perform their job duties. This could be for a number of reasons, including:
- Physical or mental illness
- Burnout
- Family emergency
Many employees consider absences a stain on their performance and credibility. They often fear for their future within a company. As a result, they push themselves to go to work when, in reality, they should stay at home.
Just how far does presenteeism go? According to a recent study from Zippia, 79% of respondents show up to work when they're experiencing neck or back pain, 34% show up to work while dealing with a heart attack, and 131% go to work when suffering from depression.
Common Causes of Presenteeism
There are many different causes for presenteeism culture. Some of the most common include:
- Office culture: In high-pressure office environments, employees often feel duty-bound to work long hours—even when they’re sick or injured.
- Limited number of sick days: Employees clock in when they should be resting to save their sick days in case they need them in the future. For example, parents might save their sick days for when their children are ill—and show up to work when they’re sick themselves.
- Loyalty to their team: Employees worry about the consequences their absence will have on their teams. They may have stand-up meetings or presentations with no one available to take their place.
- Uncertainty: Many fear that missing work could jeopardize their job security.
What is Digital Presenteeism?
Presenteeism isn’t just a problem when you’re working in an office. It can be just as big of a problem when your team is working remotely—an issue known as digital presenteeism.
Digital presenteeism is when team members show up for remote work despite being unable to adequately perform their job duties—for example, because they’re too ill, injured, or dealing with an emergency.
Some of the reasons driving digital presenteeism in today’s culture include:
- Desire to be digitally visible at all times: Employees are still getting used to the new culture, and because managers can’t physically see that they’re working, employees may feel the need to be constantly available digitally.
- Lack of dedicated office space: This makes it difficult for workers to switch off. This leads to burnout and makes it harder for employees to separate workdays and leisure time.
- Employees feel they can’t take a sick day: As workers are already at home, it makes it harder for them to take a break from work and rest.
These are all issues a company and HR professionals need to address to ensure their employees’ well-being.
Consequences of Presenteeism
The problem is that this overexertion isn’t leading to an increase in productivity. In fact, presenteeism leads to more challenges than benefits. The cost of presenteeism is felt by both your employees and your business. Some of the negative consequences are:
It Can Cause Mass Absences
If a worker comes into the office with a cold or an infectious illness, they risk passing it on to their teammates—and their presenteeism can actually cause their co-workers to miss work.
And when you have a bunch of employees out of the office, there will be a loss of productivity across the board. With teams operating at a reduced level, services will suffer along with team morale.
Longer Recovery
When you’re sick, there’s nothing better than staying home and getting some good, old-fashioned rest. But if your employees push themselves to continue to work—instead of staying home—it’ll take them longer to recover from their health issues.
But, if employees stay home when they're sick—and stay home until they're feeling better—they'll come back to the office feeling rested and ready to jump back into work.
Reduced Productivity
As we have discussed, just because employees are present doesn’t mean they’re doing their best work. It’s unlikely an unwell employee will perform to their fullest potential. There will also be a loss of productivity for a longer stretch of time as it may take an employee more time to recover, particularly if they’re dealing with health problems.
Increased Risk of Mistakes
Employees who are ill, tired, suffering from mental health conditions, or distracted by a personal emergency will also be more likely to make mistakes. As their attention will be elsewhere, they could forget a meeting or commit payment errors.
How to Reduce Presenteeism
Let’s look at how businesses can keep presenteeism to a minimum with a few simple steps.
Encourage Employees to Take Time off
Rather than creating a work environment that shuns absences, employees should receive adequate paid time off that leaves ample time for sick leave and vacation. Not only that, but they should be encouraged to use that time as they need it.
When employees take time off, they need to know their pay and reputation will remain intact. They shouldn’t be worried about job insecurity or lost productivity. Companies need to aim for an environment that rejects judgment and embraces wellness—and where employees feel safe taking time off when they need it.
Provide a Flexible Work Schedule
Providing flexible working hours means workers can attend to their personal needs. They can take time off when they need to rest or receive healthcare, knowing that they have the option to catch up on hours when they have recovered.
It gives employees the flexibility to adapt their schedule around their responsibilities and health. It means that when they’re working, they are more likely to be focused, productive, and well enough to do so.
Change in Culture
Workplace culture is the place to start when a company wants to make a change. Having a toxic environment not only causes staff burnout but it leads to mental health challenges as well. Here are some ways you can improve your culture and prevent presentism:
- Encourage employees to stay home when needed: Open communication and reassurance will turn even the most toxic workplace into a collaborative one.
- Lead by example: Managers also need to take time off when they’re not well. Staff will feel more comfortable taking time off when they see management doing the same.
- Make wellness a part of your culture: Introducing wellness programs, like fitness classes and mindfulness sessions, are a great way to put employee health at the center of your business. (And make sure that extends to making mental health a priority in the workplace, as a third of workers want more support for their mental health and well-being from employers.)
Be Proactive about Stopping Presentism
While presenteeism in the workplace might be common, it’s in everyone’s best interest to prevent it from happening. Ultimately, it can lead to burnout, long-term absenteeism and big productivity losses.
So, make it a goal to encourage your employees to recharge when they need it–and you should do the same–until it becomes part of your regular company culture. That way, you can send the message that your team’s well-being is a top priority. And in the end, their working lives will improve.
Jenna Bunnell is the Senior Manager for Content Marketing at Dialpad.
1. Introducing Yourself
Your introductory email needs to pack a lot of information into a small package. Try something like this:
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Hello Jane,
My name is John Doe and I work for ABC Agency, where we provide business insurance policies to many of Dallas' rockstar small businesses.
Congratulations on your new business, Jane's Bakery. Are you wondering if you have all the insurance you need? Or if your policies will really cover you in a pinch?
At ABC Agency, we pride ourselves on providing robust, comprehensive coverage options to companies like yours with flexible, pay-as-you-go plans.
Are you available this week to talk more about how we can help? I can help you find the most affordable rates and the best policies out there.
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Cheers,
John Doe
2. Presenting a Quote
Once you've met with your potential client, a quick reply with their quote will get the ball rolling.
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Hi Jane,
Thanks so much for meeting with me this morning. I loved touring Jane's Bakery–I can still smell those delicious chocolate chip cookies baking! You have a great location, and I'm sure you're going to do great on Front St.
After reviewing my notes, I've pulled together an insurance quote for you (attached). I recommend a business owner's policy. A BOP includes several insurance products in one: liability, property insurance, and business interruption insurance. It offers robust coverage at a competitive price.
I'll call you in a few days to see what you think about this insurance plan. In the meantime, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me or call me at [phone number].
Again, thank you for your time today. I look forward to working with you in the future.
Cheers,
John Doe
3. Thanks for Purchasing a Policy
Gratitude is important! It's never a bad idea to thank your clients for their business.
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Hi Jane,
Thank you for choosing a business owner's policy with ABC Agency. We know it's so important to get the right coverage for your business, and we are honoured you've placed your trust in us.
We're excited to work closely with you, and our no. 1 goal is to make sure you're business is always protected.
Do you have any questions? We are here to help. Reach out whenever something comes to mind.
Thank you again for choosing ABC Agency to insure Jane's Bakery.
Cheers,
John Doe
4. Welcome Email
A welcome email helps clients feel like you're there to help–and can softly pitch other insurance products you offer.
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Dear Jane,
Welcome to the ABC family! We are thrilled to have you as a new customer and can't wait to meet all of your insurance needs.
As an independent insurance agency, we work with multiple insurance providers to find the best coverage options for all our customers. If you need any other type of insurance–like [include additional offerings unique to your agency, like life insurance, health insurance, home insurance or anything else]–we can help you too.
Do you want to discuss any of these policies?
Cheers,
John Doe
5. Introducing a New Product
A happy client may want to expand their business with you.
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Hello Jane,
I hope all is well with you and Jane's Bakery. I stopped in yesterday for a blueberry muffin and coffee, and they were delicious. I loved the hint of cinnamon in the muffin! Was that your idea?
I wanted you to be the first to know we are now offering commercial vehicle insurance to our policyholders. Auto insurance for your catering vans is super important since your personal car insurance won't cover them.
We're offering this insurance coverage solely to our current business clients at the moment and have some very competitive rates.
Would you like me to work up a quote for you?
As always, thanks so much for being a part of the ABC family.
Cheers,
John Doe
6. Asking For Referrals
Once your relationship is established and comfortable, let your clients help you grow.
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Hi Jane,
You've been a valuable member of the ABC family for two years now, and we so appreciate your business–not to mention the muffins you supply for our monthly meetings!
Because you are a valued policyholder, I wanted to ask a quick favour. I know you are active in the local Chamber of Commerce, and I'm hoping you might know some colleagues who would benefit from working with our insurance company.
Referrals are one of the most effective ways to connect with our community since people really trust their friends, family and colleagues. Is there anyone you'd recommend I speak with?
Remember that in addition to business insurance products, we offer everything from life insurance policies to pet insurance.
As a thank you for your help, we will send you an Amazon gift card of $100 when your referrals buy insurance from us.
Thanks so much for your help!
Cheers,
John Doe
7. Policy Renewal
If your client needs to renew their policy with you, send an email like this:
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Hi Jane,
I hope you're doing well! What a year it's been—from being listed as one of the top 5 bakeries in Dallas to being an official vendor for the city—you have so much to be proud of.
Just a heads up that your business owner's policy is up for renewal soon and will expire on June 15, 2023.
If you're still happy with the coverage, we can easily renew it for you.
Do you have some time to chat this week?
Looking forward to serving you again!
Cheers,
John Doe