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At work but ill: psychosocial work environment and well‐being determinants of presenteeism propensity

Caroline Biron (Management School, Lancaster University)
Jean‐Pierre Brun (Faculty of Administration, Laval University, Québec)
Hans Ivers (Faculty of Administration, Laval University, Québec)
Cary Cooper (Management School, Lancaster University)

Journal of Public Mental Health

ISSN: 1746-5729

Article publication date: 1 December 2006

1360

Abstract

Many studies have shown that an unfavourable psychosocial environment increases the risk of mental and physical illness, as well as absenteeism, or sickness absence. However, more costly than absenteeism is presenteeism, where a person is present at work even though disabled by a mental or physical illness. We sought to identify factors explaining why workers would come to work even when their health is impaired. In a cross‐sectional design data were collected from 3825 employees of a Canadian organisation. The results show a high occurrence of presenteeism: workers went to work in spite of illness 50% of the time. Presenteeism propensity (the percentage of days worked while ill over total number of sick days) was higher for workers who were ill more often. Heavier workloads, higher skill discretion, harmonious relationships with colleagues, role conflict and precarious job status increased presenteeism, but decision authority did not. Workers reporting high psychological distress and more severe psychosomatic complaints were also more likely to report higher rates of presenteeism. These results suggest that stress research should not only include absenteeism as an outcome indicator, but also consider presenteeism.

Keywords

Citation

Biron, C., Brun, J., Ivers, H. and Cooper, C. (2006), "At work but ill: psychosocial work environment and well‐being determinants of presenteeism propensity", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 26-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200600029

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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