Presenteeism

What It Means

Presenteeism means turning up for work, in person or online, when you're sick or otherwise not able to work at your normal level. Researchers use the term in two ways: (1) sickness presenteeism, continuing to work while ill, and (2) more broadly, being at work with reduced performance because of illness or other reasons, such as exhaustion or stress. It's often discussed beside absenteeism, which is missing work.

How People Say It at Work

• "I came in sick because I couldn't afford the day."
• "He's here, but he's not really here."
• "I'll just log on from bed, it's fine."

The Breakdown

Steps for staying home well (Buhata's suggestion)

1. Know your sick leaveSick leaveTime off work an employer allows when you're ill, injured or caring for your health, paid or unpaid depending on the employer's policy and state or local law. See more before you need it: how many days you have, how to report an absence, and whether a doctor's note is required.
2. When you wake up sick, tell your manager early, in writing, with what's due and who could cover it.
3. Hand off anything urgent in one short message, then stop checkingChecking accountA bank or credit union account for everyday money going in and out, used by debit card, checks, transfers and direct deposit. See more work.
4. For a respiratory virus, use CDC's signals above to decide when to go back.
5. On return, catch up from one list rather than every inbox at once.

For managers (Buhata's suggestion). Say plainly that sick people should stay home, and model it yourself. Keep a simple cover plan for each role so one person's absence doesn't stall the week.

Try it today. Look up your sick leave policy and save the reporting steps where you can find them from your phone.

Good to Know

Peer-reviewed research in PubMed Central describes growing evidence that presenteeism can harm wellbeing and job performance and may put coworkers' health and safety at risk. For respiratory viruses, CDC advises staying home and away from others while you have symptoms, going back once your symptoms are improving overall and you've had no fever for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine, and taking extra precautions for 5 days after. CDC notes you may still be able to spread the virus after you feel better. If you're working through low mood or thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Call 911 in an emergency.

Related Terms and Categories

• Sick leave

  Time off work an employer allows when you're ill, injured or caring for your health, paid or unpaid depending on the employer's policy and state or local law.

• Burnout at work

  Exhaustion, cynicism about your job and a drop in how effective you feel, which WHO links to chronic workplace stress that hasn't been managed.

• Mental health day

  A day off work taken to rest and recover from stress or strain, usually drawn from sick leave or PTO under the employer's own policy.

• Remote work

  Doing your job from somewhere other than your employer's workplace, most often from home, for some or all of the workweek.

Work, career and remote life