What Is Presenteeism & Why Is Keir Starmer Speaking About It? 

The UK’s productiveness disaster is because of a workforce tradition of “presenteeism” that improved versatile working might clear up, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer declared earlier this week.

Presenteeism is a piece development the place staff are bodily current within the office, however usually are not working at full capability. It’s possible a symptom of the rising worker engagement disaster, which some HR specialists are dubbing ‘The Nice Detachment’.

Chatting with reporters, Starmer condemned presenteeism and argued that companies have to discover a “stability of benefiting from the versatile working practices [and] having applicable preparations in place to make sure that folks can keep productive.”

Under, we clarify what presenteeism is and how one can spot it inside your personal workforce.

The basis causes of presenteeism

Presenteeism has its root within the poisonous work behaviour of hustle tradition and excessive administration expectations, the place busyness is seen to equate to productiveness.

An worker who’s participating in presenteeism will flip as much as the workplace and ‘coast’ by way of the day by wanting busy however really doing the naked minimal.

Generally, the worker might not be working successfully attributable to being unwell, however feeling that they’ve to show up (consider that coworker who is available in sneezing and coughing however refuses to go on sick depart).

Extra not too long ago, numerous folks have been participating in presenteeism attributable to rising ranges of stress and burnout, which have made it more durable for workers to really feel motivated of their job.

Such a presenteeism helped to delivery the viral HR buzzword ‘quiet quitting’ final yr.

Presenteeism has been exacerbated by dwelling working. Distant work makes it more durable for employers to trace worker efficiency, leading to an absence of belief between staff and executives that has seen many firms demand workers return to the workplace full-time this yr.

How can I spot presenteeism?

Except you’re carefully monitoring one worker for indicators of poor focus or low morale, it may be arduous to identify, individual to individual. Nevertheless, the impression of this office development on a department-wide, and even workforce stage is extra noticeable.

You would possibly spot that staff usually are not turning as much as conferences, arriving to work late or leaving early, and usually are not volunteering for additional initiatives, management roles, or obligations.

If your small business runs worker suggestions classes, workers members would possibly even come clean with their very own presenteeism. Beforehand, staff might have been extra discreet. However at this time, many workers members are brazenly discussing their very own ambivalence in direction of working on TikTok.

Younger workers members are extra susceptible to the follow. In keeping with a research by CNBC, Gen Zers are actually the least keen about their roles at work, as “quiet quitting” turns into ‘The Nice Detachment’; the place staff keep in roles they discover dissatisfying.

The best way to sort out presenteeism

One of the best ways to repair a tradition of presenteeism is to change the tradition. Simpler mentioned than carried out, however actually potential. Step one is to determine the gripes your staff have.

For instance, if workers say they really feel undervalued, transitioning to a market tradition the place staff are rewarded with perks and advantages might assist. For those who assume they really feel they aren’t being listened to, purpose for a clan tradition the place opinions are equally legitimate from each workers member. A number of points might require you to tug from a number of tradition sorts.

Whitehall has additionally hinted that versatile working could possibly be used to sort out presenteeism. A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “The federal government is dedicated to supporting people and companies to work in ways in which finest swimsuit their explicit circumstances”.

Versatile work preparations have been proven to enhance work-life stability by giving staff time to disconnect, which may enhance productiveness ranges. Earlier this yr, new legal guidelines have been ratified that gave staff the fitting to request versatile work from day one.

Analysis from Worldwide Office Group has additionally revealed that staff with hybrid working choices are much less prone to ‘quiet stop’. Within the research, 78% of hybrid staff reported that hybrid work had boosted their productiveness ranges.

Return to workplace stays unclear

Whereas the federal government is backing versatile work protections, it has stopped in need of forcing firms to drop their return to workplace insurance policies and embrace dwelling or hybrid working.

The spokesperson added that it is going to be as much as particular person employers to find out whether or not workers can earn a living from home or on the office as “folks’s roles will range”.

Nonetheless, the prevalence of presenteeism ought to make employers sit up and pay attention. This week, the CEO of Nothing, a smartphone startup, was loudly criticised on LinkedIn after he shared an inside e mail declaring that distant work was “unambitious”.

These sorts of firm values look more and more outdated as the specter of presenteeism leads organisations to recognise the unwell results of equating workplace visibility with productiveness.