Home-Based Telework and Presenteeism

Abstract

Indirect work control (such as management by objectives and application of performance measures) promotes the use of telework for work intensification (i.e. teleworking after regular working hours in the main office or on weekends and times off) which is associated with enhanced sickness presenteeism.

Longitudinal Association of Working From Home on Work Functioning Impairment in Desk Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Existing evidence regarding the association between working from home and work functioning impairment lacks a longitudinal investigation that considers the time varyingness of the working-from-home status. Several previous cross-sectional studies reported an association between working from home and work functioning impairment during the COVID-19 pandemic, 14,22 while one cross-sectional study reported contradicting results 16 . However, all of the studies inherently included the possibility of reverse causation due to their design.…”

“…Previous studies, both before and during the pandemic, have reported that working from home could improve productivity, 3,12,13 as it offers workers more flexible schedules, less workplace stress, zero commuting, and more time spent with family 13 . However, other researchers have pointed out that this work style might deprive workers of their chance to take a break when they are sick 14–17 . Furthermore, working from home could make it difficult for supervisors to easily manage the workers’ condition because of the physical distance 18 .…”

“…18 Therefore, several studies investigated the risk of workers continuing their work from home even under poor health-related conditions. [14][15][16][19][20][21][22] This has been termed presenteeism defined by "Going to work despite feeling unhealthy" according to some researchers. 23,24 As governments and companies have to consider the economic burden brought by COVID-19-related measures, presenteeism, which is a major risk of working from home, has been attracting global attention.…”

“…13 However, other researchers have pointed out that this work style might deprive workers of their chance to take a break when they are sick. [14][15][16][17] Furthermore, working from home could make it difficult for supervisors to easily manage the workers' condition From the Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan (A.T., S.I., K.K. ); Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan (T.Y.…”

Sick and working: Current challenges and emerging directions for future presenteeism research

“…Yet seeking to broaden this earlier conceptualization of sickness presenteeism, researchers have recently called for more inclusive non‐location bound operationalization of the construct (Kinman & Grant, 2021; Ruhle et al, 2020). Indeed, this resurgence is reflected in studies that investigate the relationship between home‐based teleworking and presenteeism in pre‐and post‐pandemic times advancing our understanding of presenteeism in remote work contexts (e.g., Gerich, 2022; Steidelmüller et al, 2020). This approach, wherein two very dissimilar phenomena—attendance and illness—co‐occur in negative directions to share the same conceptual space, has become the most common way to operationalize presenteeism.…”