Social Sustainability
Presenteeism
Definition
Presenteeism is the practice of attending work while ill, injured or otherwise impaired, with consequently reduced performance, prolonged recovery and risk of error or contagion. Workplace health research finds the productivity costs of presenteeism frequently exceed those of absenteeism, driven by job insecurity, high workload cultures and inadequate sick leave.
References
Overview
How it is used
The term is used in occupational health, HR wellbeing strategy, health economics and workforce sustainability reporting (alongside absenteeism and turnover indicators).
Why it matters
Presenteeism quantifies why worker health is a productivity issue, not just a welfare one — a key argument for treating workforce wellbeing as a material sustainability factor.