Problems caused by sickness presenteeism - the act of working while unwell - are more common and more costly than those caused by sickness absence, new research suggests.
A report from the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) argues that failing to tackle sickness presenteeism means that employers are simply replacing one form of productivity loss with another. A 2023 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that 76% of HR professionals had observed presenteeism among office-based staff and 78% observed it among remote workers. This equates to employees spending more than two weeks a year working while sick, the CIPD estimated, costing upwards of £4,000 per person annually in lost productivity.
According to the SOM report, presenteeism is driven by a mix of cultural and practical pressures: financial concerns, job insecurity, loyalty to colleagues and a working culture that often values presence over recovery. In remote and hybrid settings, it can be even harder for managers to spot when someone is unwell. Sometimes, work can help people feel better. But unmanaged presenteeism can delay recovery, increase the risk of burnout and long-term absence, and damage overall performance.
Exacerbating this, Occupational Health (OH) is only brought in when someone is already off sick. This misses a crucial opportunity to intervene earlier and support people to stay well enough to remain at work. OH professionals can provide tailored advice for employees who are still working but struggling. Using OH strategically isn’t just about getting people back to work, the SOM argues, it’s about keeping them well enough to avoid falling out in the first place and refusing to reward silent suffering..
HR teams under growing pressure to reduce absence and maintain performance need to be mindful that far from being a short-term win, presenteeism is often a warning sign of deeper issues such as poor culture, lack of support, and systems under strain. However it also cites CIPD figures suggesting that 41% of employers have introduced measures to support workers struggling with presenteeism, while 25% are actively encouraging employees to refrain from working when unwell.
“Presenteeism can hinder rather than aid recovery, increase the risk of future health issues and absenteeism, and result in decreased productivity,” the report says, adding that it “can also lead to errors, accidents and injuries that not only affect the unwell employee but also potentially harm their co-workers and the public.”
Understanding Sickness Presenteeism: Causes, Risks and Solutions by Professor Gail Kinman and Dr Christine Grant