Stay Home If You Are Sick!
The new word for this workplace issue is “presenteeism” and that is going to work when you are ill. It’s the opposite of absenteeism and more costly to American employers than absenteeism. Why? It is harmful to employees and employers alike. People coming to work sick are stressed and less productive as well as contagious. The problem, sadly enough, is that only 39% of all American workers (41 million people) do not have paid sick leave. Wallace of Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth reports that wellness rather than absenteeism represents a progressive workplace trend. A SHRM online article estimates lost productivity of $150-$250 billion a year due to presenteeism. It would also behoove employers to look at their personnel policies and include paid sick leave for their employees or strongly encourage them to stay home if employees are given PTO which includes vacation and sick leave. *Reported by Templeton of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
