A Theory of Presenteeism Beyond Being Sick and a Measurement Tool

Abstract

The first definition of presenteeism was limited to individuals who attended work despite being unwell. Over the past 15 years, other perspectives have expanded the concept to encompass any non-work-related factors influencing behavior during working hours. This research aims to redefine presenteeism within the context of healthcare workers' behaviors and contribute to the literature by introducing a measurement scale. The study involved 431 healthcare professionals across nine public and four private/foundation hospitals. Presenteeism was associated positively with burnout and negatively with happiness at work. Younger people showed higher levels of presenteeism compared to their older counterparts, as did those who worked nine hours or more per day. Although the scale was applied to healthcare professionals, its framework holds potential for use in other areas.