This question was put to employees, employers and physicians across Canada recently, and it turns out management and staff have very different opinions on the topic. I'll let an Exchange magazine article break it down:
The survey also showed that employees are more likely to see presenteeism as a serious issue than employers. The majority of employees (53 per cent) indicated that presenteeism is a serious issue in their workplace, versus 32 per cent of employers. Employees are also more likely to see presenteeism as a more serious issue in their workplace than absenteeism, while employers are more likely to see the reverse. According to the report, more than half of employers (52 per cent) see absenteeism as a serious issue in their workplace compared to 43 per cent of employees."Presenteeism," if you're not familiar with the term, means coming to work but not being very productive due to illness, and so on.
Bottom line: Employers tend to prefer butts in seats even when employees aren't getting very much done. Employees, on the other hand, see showing up to work, but not getting much done, as the much bigger problem facing the modern workplace.
Employees are also much more aware of presenteeism happening on the job than managers.
In sum, the modern workplace has been reduced to a classic song by The Clash.
So what does it all mean? The researchers conclude that such findings present a "tremendous opportunity" for employers to "influence" occasional employee absences from work as an overall productivity, and workplace morale, boost. At least in Canada.
Do such findings apply here in the States? Well, it's something to think about as we stare blankly at a computer screen. Well, at least we showed up today, right?
This is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Accordingly, it is difficult to figure out when to end it. But then, this is dummy text. It is not meant to be read. Period.
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