Business Express is an online portal that covers the latest developments in the world of business and finance. From startups and entrepreneurship to mergers and acquisitions, Business Express provides reporting on the stories that matter most to business leaders and decision-makers.The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.
storyblocks young employee looking through office center window S8JsG8w0Z SBI 324036556
storyblocks young employee looking through office center window S8JsG8w0Z SBI 324036556

The pressing problem of pandemic presenteeism


By: Natalie Rogers, Chief People Officer at Unum

Even with Freedom Day granted and most COVID-19 restrictions lifted,[1] the reality is that many workers may never return to the office full time. However, hybrid or remote working isn’t without risks. Almost half (46%) of employees surveyed by The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) said they felt more pressure to be ‘present’ since working from home; 24% felt the need to prove they were working every day.

As a result, more than one third of employees have continued working at kitchen tables, in spare rooms and other makeshift offices even when unwell, often due to fears about being singled out for redundancy if they aren’t seen as productive.

What’s the problem?

Presenteeism, where employees feel they must work despite only being able to perform at a lower capacity due to ill health, was a problem before the pandemic.  In 2019, 80% of employees still worked whilst unwell. Understandably, employees cannot perform their best whilst battling illness or injury. Presenteeism therefore comes at a cost — more than £15 billion annually.

However, the pandemic kicked presenteeism into an even higher gear. With commutes consisting of just a few steps from bed to home office, it’s perhaps no surprise that:

  • 40% of employees went to work whilst sick during lockdown because they didn’t feel their illness was serious enough to take a day off
  • 20% of employees did so because colleagues/senior staff would make them feel guilty for having time off.

This, too, comes at a cost — this time, to employees’ mental health.

More than half (56%) of adults said that their mental health had deteriorated since lockdown.[7] For some, this became diagnosable depression. Almost one fifth of adults are reporting some form of depression since the pandemic — more than double the previous rate amongst the population.

Don't miss out on any breaking news or insightful opinions!
Subscribe to our free newsletter and stay updated on the go!


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Global Banking & Finance Review. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email.

A report released in January 2020 put the cost of poor mental health amongst employees at between £33 billion and £42 billion per year for employers.[9] Yet with the above figures indicating a huge rise in mental health concerns since the outbreak of the pandemic, this figure may well be far higher if the report covered a period marked by the pandemic and its related lockdowns.

Ongoing risks of hybrid working

If hybrid working means employees spend less time in the office, employers could find it more difficult to spot problems such as workplace stress early and act to prevent a larger issue. It will therefore be even more important to have a strong mental health and wellbeing policy in place.

Early intervention truly is key for employees’ wellbeing. Any Unum Group Income Protection customer who spots an employee struggling can refer them for a Wellbeing Check. This offers 1-2-1 support from expert Vocational Rehabilitation & Wellbeing Consultants, who’ll help the employee identify self-management techniques that can help improve their wellbeing.

Natalie Rogers, Chief People Officer at Unum commented: “The pressure employees feel to always be online and contactable remains for many entering a hybrid working environment, whether they are on their lunch break or on annual leave. This is a real issue for maintaining staff morale and can lead to burnout. The hybrid model is a natural evolution for the workplace, but the basics need to be in place to protect both the employee and the employer. Simple things such as worrying if others judge you for your response time, or how long you stay online after working hours, can cause anxiety for many.

“As we move forward, it will be paramount for companies to ensure their benefits and general wellbeing approach are ready to meet the highs and lows of the world of hybrid work. Doing so will be vitally important for both the success of the business and employees’ mental health and productivity.”

Whatever approach you take and whichever resources you use to integrate wellbeing into your workplace, the key takeaway is that proactivity and early intervention are key.

Despite the challenges of doing so in a hybrid working world (which is why support from a suite of resources such as those Unum offers can be so valuable), spotting the signs of a struggling employee and intervening early remains the best way to prevent presenteeism and absenteeism. By the time an employee becomes ill enough to take their first sick day, the impact on both themselves and the business is already too great.

Recent Post: