The practice of the Human Resource profession constantly aims to have employees perform at their best. It studies intently the motivations that drive an employee to become productive and makes interventions to create a working environment that generates productivity, performance, and achievement.

One factor that decreases performance is absenteeism. It is an issue that is commonly addressed in the workplace. However, recent studies have shown that another issue is also developing, and that issue is presenteeism. What it is and its effect on employee productivity is going to be explored in this article.

What is presenteeism? Wikipedia defines presenteeism as the act or culture of employees continuing to work as a performative measure, despite having reduced productivity levels or negative consequences. In short, it means an employee who chooses to work even if he/she is sick or is not feeling well.

We are all familiar with the issue of absenteeism. Absenteeism is defined in Wikipedia as the habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation without good reason. Generally, absenteeism is unplanned absences. Taking on the root words from the definition, we can see several terms: “habit” “pattern” “absence without good reason”. Absenteeism is an anti-productivity issue that has been studied earlier. Many measures have been taken to reduce and mitigate it. On the other hand, presenteeism is somewhat new.

Is presenteeism the opposite of absenteeism? Perhaps.

Presenteeism is a phenomenon that has been present in the workplace for years. It is a situation where employees come to work despite being sick, tired, or otherwise not feeling well. They may not be physically or mentally present, but they are there, showing up to work and trying to get through the day. In the Philippine workplace setting, presenteeism has become a common occurrence, and it has both pros and cons that affect the employee, the employer, and the overall work environment.

Is presenteeism a good or a bad thing? Let us first discuss the reasons why an employee commits presenteeism.

An employee needs the money. If you are a job order worker that is subject to the “No Work No Pay” policy, reporting for work can offset the loss of income.

The second reason is to meet work deadlines and to ease up the workload. Some employees are burdened with work that it is necessary to be present to reduce backlogs. Another reason for presenteeism is that there is no other employee who can do the job in the absence of another. The work can’t be delegated to someone else.

The third reason for presenteeism is the love of work. Some employees simply love working and develop anxiety if they are away from their workplace.

No matter what are the reasons for the issue at hand, what are the consequences of presenteeism? While presenteeism may inspire other employees to have more devotion to their job, there are still negative consequences.

Loss of productivity still occurs. Remember that the employee is enduring an illness or a health condition, that employee is still not at a hundred percent. He/she operates at reduced capacity despite his/her presence at work. Reduced productivity during presenteeism is aggravated by illness, injury, exhaustion, or other conditions.

Poor health and exhaustion. The employee continues to have poor health. Let us remember that the best remedy for sickness is medication and adequate rest to fully recover. The earlier an employee gets to rest, the better the recovery gets. Working while sick puts on hold the recovery process.

Risk of injury. Workers who operate critical machinery such as heavy equipment may put themselves and others at risk by causing accidents because of impaired performance and misjudgments due to sickness.

Workplace epidemic. An employee who reports to work despite being sick is a sure carrier of infectious viruses and germs in the office. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that a sick employee needs to be immediately quarantined away from healthy employees. By refraining from work, the rest of the workforce is spared from infection.

In the local government of General Santos City, there are mechanisms in place that the Occupational Safety and Health Committee implements for the good of all. Employees who are sick are advised to rest as much as possible before going back to work. Free healthcare makes it easy for our employees to avail of medical checkups that will cure their illnesses and have them back to work as soon as possible. Furthermore, the overall health of the majority must be prioritized above personal concerns. Thus sick employees must isolate themselves from healthy employees to reduce the risk of infecting the group.

You might ask, Is “working from home” a better alternative for presenteeism? The answer is negative. While you might be isolated from healthy employees, you are not getting any rest because you are still up and working. Your recovery is still compromised.

How do we address the negative consequences of presenteeism?

One way is to encourage employees to avail of sick leave. As long as an employee has leave credits, sick leaves will offset the loss of income while providing an opportunity to rest and recover. Management can make it clear that employees are encouraged to take time off when they are not feeling well. This can help prevent the spread of illness and ensure that employees can fully recover before returning to work.

Another way to address presenteeism is to delegate the work to another employee. The management has to ensure that every employee has a workplace “buddy” or “partner” that can accomplish the work in his/her absence. This delegation creates trust relationships and takes the load off the shoulders of one person.

A third option is to promote a Positive Work Environment. Creating a positive work environment can also help address presenteeism. When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to take time off when they are not feeling well. Additionally, a positive work environment can help boost morale and increase job satisfaction, which can lead to lower levels of presenteeism.

Presenteeism is a complex issue in the workplace. While it can help maintain productivity and demonstrate dedication, it can also decrease productivity, increase the risk of injury, and decrease morale. To address presenteeism, employers should encourage sick leave, delegate work to other employees, and promote a positive work environment. In doing so, our LGU can create a healthier and more productive workplace for every employee.