Sometimes Workers Should Stay Home, Especially In Small Firms Even if they’re ailing, smaller firms often encourage workers to come in, but that may not be the best thing to do.
Studies indicated that workers who are sick but come into work often have difficulty concentrating, work more slowly, and have to repeat tasks. These efforts often bog down the productivity of others and bogging down productivity.
Economists refer to slack productivity from ailing workers as "presenteeism."
According to Cornell University labor researchers these dragging employees can cost employers an average of $225 each during the work year. At an average hourly wage of $15, it’s the equivalent of almost two full workdays.
The conclusion experts suggest—American workers should stop trying to be heroes and just stay home when they're sick.
It could also be cheaper for their employers, the Cornell analysis indicates.
Counter Productive Pressure
Since smaller firms rely more heavily on each worker, there is often greater peer pressure on individuals to come to work, even if they are not 100%.
Some experts suggest that this may not be in the best interest of the company or fellow employees. Often times, illnesses spread to other workers and those costs, to the employer and employees, were not counted in the study.
The Cornell study said it may cost employers even more than absenteeism due to illness.
Lori Rosen, a workplace analyst for CCH Inc., a trade group in Riverwoods, Ill., that does an annual nationwide survey on absenteeism, acknowledged presenteeism is a problem but said absenteeism still costs employers more, an average of $645 per employee per year.
Some studies suggest that presenteeism costs U.S. businesses $180 billion annually in lost productivity.
Problem Needs Recognition
The impact of employee absenteeism is well documented. Figuring out how much it costs to come to work sick, however, has been more elusive, because of a lack of accepted measurement standards.
"Presenteeism might be more costly if you have an employee start an epidemic and you knock out the whole office," Rosen said. "With absenteeism, though, you have to consider overtime, hiring a temp, and a whole bunch of other costs besides the work not getting done."
Cornell’s Ron Goetzel said his study, published in the April issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, is the first to add the cost of on-the-job productivity losses from common health problems to an employer's total health-related expenses.
"Companies need to be aware of the potential for loss, he said. “The study doesn't mean people should stay home sick at every sniffle," adds Goetzel of Cornell's Institute for Health and Productivity Studies in Washington.
|
|
