Health Risk Factors Associated With Presenteeism in the Workplace

OBJECTIVE: An emerging concern in the workplace is the productivity of employees who come to work instead of staying home when they are ill, also referred to as presenteeism. This study examined the health risks associated with presenteeism. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional correlational design, we used data from a 2010 self-reported wellness surveys. A negative binomial regression model was used to explore the association between employee health risks and presenteeism. RESULTS: The findings revealed that workplace stress (β = 0.76; P < 0.001), stress at home (β = 0.87; P < 0.001), and financial stress (β = 0.59; P < 0.001) were related to presenteeism. Other health risks were not associated with presenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: We found that only stress was related to presenteeism, and other health risks were unrelated to presenteeism.