Being Present at Work: Absenteism and Presenteism

In workplaces, there are various factors that affect the productivity of employees. Two of these factors are absenteeism and presenteeism. These two concepts have become increasingly visible in recent years.

Absenteeism and presenteeism focus on the presence of employees at work, but they have different aspects.

Absenteism "Absence from the workplace" 

Absenteeism refers to the situation where employees do not show up for work on the designated working days. This can be based on a variety of reasons, such as illness, personal reasons, work vacations or lack of motivation. Absenteeism can reduce productivity in the workplace and reduce employee commitment to work.

Offering benefits such as flexible working hours, wellness programs and work vacations can increase employee engagement and reduce absenteeism rates.

Presenteism: "Being Present at Work but Not Fully Performing" 

Presenteeism refers to the situation where employees show up at the workplace but are unable to work effectively. For reasons such as health problems, job stress or lack of job satisfaction, employees may be physically present at work but not productive. In the long run, this can negatively affect employees' health and reduce job performance.

Among the solutions, offering benefits such as flexible working hours, wellness programs and work vacations can increase employees' commitment to their work and reduce absenteeism rates.

Presenteism: "Being Present at Work but Not Fully Performing" 

Presenteeism refers to the situation where employees show up at the workplace but are unable to work effectively. For reasons such as health problems, job stress or lack of job satisfaction, employees may be physically present at work but not productive. In the long run, this can negatively affect employees' health and reduce job performance.

Solutions include supporting employees' emotional health, teaching methods to cope with stress and balancing workload. It is also important to organize motivational activities to increase employees' job satisfaction.

Employer and Employee Responsibilities for Achieving Balance

To control absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace, cooperation between employers and employees is necessary. Employers can support employees' physical and emotional health by offering health and well-being programs. At the same time, they can increase job satisfaction and engagement by providing employees with benefits such as flexibility and work vacations.

Employees should also take care of their own health and develop strategies to cope with work stress. Moreover, openly communicating and sharing workplace problems can help employers to take the necessary measures.

Absenteeism and presenteeism may seem like opposites, but in fact both behaviors lead to inefficient work. The problems of absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace can be addressed by creating a healthy work environment, increasing employee motivation and ensuring work-life balance. Effective communication and cooperation between employers and employees play an important role in preventing these problems. 

If you would like to learn more about the concepts of Absenteeism and Presenteeism and the measures that employees/employers can take against these behaviors, you can read our article,