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Is 'Presenteeism' Making Workers Sick?

Is 'Presenteeism' Making Workers Sick?  . / Credit: Sick employee in office image via Shutterstock


More than four out of five (84 percent) of employed adults admit to having gone to work while sick, according to a survey of nearly 3,000 U.S. adults 18 and over sponsored by Cintas Corporation, which provides first-aid and safety solution to businesses. The practice is called "presenteeism," health experts say.

But they're not totally oblivious to the welfare of others. Although not all employed adults avoid direct contact and warn others when there are sick — two common-sense public health practices — they do make an effort to protect others, the survey found. When asked which precautions they take to alleviate their own symptoms and avoid infecting others in the workplace, a majority said they regularly wash their hands/use hand sanitizer (77 percent) or sneeze/cough into their sleeves (67 percent).

Other common preventative measures taken by workers reporting sick to duty include bringing their own medication to work (54 percent) and regularly wiping down their workspace (34 percent).

"Workplaces can quickly become breeding grounds for bacteria when workers engage inpresenteeism, or attending work while sick," said John Amann, vice president of first aid and safety with Cintas. "Since presenteeism reduces business productivity, it’s important for people to take the proper steps to protect themselves and others, like avoiding contact and warning co-workers of their illness."


Ned Smith


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