Centre for Mental Health

Managing presenteeism saves employers money and improves health at work

23 May 2011

Employers can save money and improve the health of their staff if they manage presenteeism alongside sickness absence, according to a discussion paper produced today by Business in the Community (BITC) and Centre for Mental Health.

Managing Presenteeism examines how employers can deal with reduced productivity among people who come to work and are not fully engaged or perform at lower levels as a result of ill health.

Using the BITC Workwell Model, Managing Presenteeism shows that the costs of presenteeism can be reduced through better work, improved relationships, more effective specialist support and better physical and psychological health at work. Simple, low-cost measures that can cut the costs of presenteeism include training for line managers in recognising the signs of mental ill health, creating an open atmosphere for staff to talk about health issues, and recording presenteeism through staff surveys.

BITC's Workwell Director Louise Aston said: "Managing presenteeism effectively involves taking a holistic and integrated approach to proactively managing employee wellness by creating the conditions in which the whole person can flourish. Managing it well not only saves money in both the short and longer term, but also contributes to the development of an engaged and productive workforce. Progressive employers are increasingly recognising the need to actively manage presenteeism."

Centre for Mental Health joint chief executive Professor Bob Grove said: "Presenteeism from mental ill health costs the UK economy £15 billion a year. This is almost double the cost of sickness absence due to mental ill health. And presenteeism is growing as white collar jobs become more common and more people carry on working while unwell.

"Employers need to manage presenteeism alongside absenteeism. The two are intimately connected and cannot be managed separately. Bearing down on sickness absence, for example, could simply increase the costs of presenteeism, whereas managing absence more flexibly may help to cut the costs of both."

For more information about managing presenteeism, visit the presenteeism resources page.