I learned a big word yesterday.
“Presenteeism is defined as lost productivity that occurs when employees come to work but perform below par due to any kind of illness. While the costs associated with the absenteeism of employees has been long studied, the costs of presenteeism is newly being studied.” (Levin-Epstein, 2005)
“Presenteeism is a new term used by human resource professionals to describe circumstances in which employees come to work even though they are ill, posing potential problems of contagion and lower productivity” (CCH Incorporated, 2003). (Sloan Work and Family Research Network).
So, basically there is a big fancy word for coming to work sick. I learned this lesson years ago. When I worked for Attila the Hun a very difficult boss who made my life miserable. I didn’t dare take a day off because I didn’t want to make the call in the morning. The flu season hit and it knocked me for a loop that year. I went to work coughing, dripping, and feeling like a bus had run me over. Backed up. And run me over again.
ck's days 