The Double Cost of Presenteeism for Employees and Organizations

Presenteeism, defined as employees attending work while ill, represents a widespread phenomenon with significant implications for both individual well-being and organizational performance. Pre-pandemic data reveals that 60% of Israeli employees reported attending work during illness, compared to 42% in the European Union and 68% in the United States. This practice carries substantial health and economic consequences, including the spread of infectious diseases to colleagues and clients, deterioration of the individual's health condition, and decreased productivity. While absenteeism results in a complete loss of daily productivity, presenteeism creates harder-to-quantify costs through reduced output, professional errors, and safety violations. Research suggests that the cumulative costs of presenteeism may exceed those of absenteeism, challenging traditional organizational perspectives on attendance.

  The factors driving presenteeism are multifaceted, encompassing individual health status, gender-related considerations, workplace stress, negative organizational behaviors, levels of job autonomy, and organizational culture. Israeli research findings reveal significant gender disparities, with women exhibiting higher rates of presenteeism, particularly pronounced in the education sector where 15% of the workforce is employed. Critically, the study demonstrates that managerial support and assistance significantly reduce presenteeism rates, suggesting that organizations can effectively address this issue through supportive management cultures. Given the dual impact on employee welfare and public health—especially relevant for infectious diseases—organizations must develop comprehensive approaches that prioritize both worker well-being and broader social responsibility, recognizing presenteeism as a systemic organizational climate issue requiring strategic intervention.

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Haim Bleikh is a researcher at the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies in Israel. This post is based on his 2024 study (Hebrew).