These are the most common reasons for presenteeism
Many employees work even when they are sick. This phenomenon, also known as presenteeism, is also widespread in Germany. But why is that? In a current study, the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) determined the most common reasons why people go to work sick.
Presenteeism is a widespread phenomenon. That comes from one study the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) from 2021. According to this, almost 75 percent of all employees in Germany have already worked although they were ill. Around a quarter of those surveyed stated that they often or very often go to work despite being ill.
So far, however, little is known about the background and extent of presenteeism. In a follow-up study TK has therefore now determined the reasons why employees go to work sick. Above all, the topic of working from home plays a role.
Sick to work: Working from home increases presenteeism
Accordingly, managers and new employees in particular would tend to work despite illness. According to TK, many employees even take medication for this. The trend towards working from home would also reinforce the phenomenon of presenteeism. However, Jens Baas, CEO of TK, qualifies:
But if you feel fit with a slight cold, for example, you can of course still be on duty – especially in the home office.
Basically, according to Baas, it doesn’t help anyone to work sick. If you are really sick, you have to recover. Anything else harms both the employer and the employees themselves. Possible consequences of presenteeism meanwhile are delayed recovery, limited performance and more mistakes and accidents.
Working despite illness: These are the most common reasons
The figures from the TK survey show that working from home is aggravating the problem. For example, 46 percent of those surveyed stated that they were more likely to work sick when working from home. 30 percent even said that they take medication to be able to work from home.
The causes of presenteeism are manifold. According to the study, however, five reasons stood out in particular: a lack of representation, the belief that the disease is not contagious, that one does not want to be a burden to colleagues, urgent work or deadlines and: having fun at work.
Jens Baas sees a need to catch up in many areas and companies. This is especially true since 65 percent of those surveyed had never spoken to their employer about the subject. “The survey also shows that employees would like clear messages and rules from their managers in the event of illness,” says Baas.
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