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7 - Understanding the Decision-Making Process for Presenteeism Behavior

An Integration and Conceptual Model

from Part III - Major Issues Relating to Stress and Well-Being

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2023

Laurent M. Lapierre
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
Sir Cary Cooper
Affiliation:
University of Manchester
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Summary

Although of potentially great value for supporting employees in balancing health and performance, our current understanding of how individuals make decisions to attend or not to attend work when they are experiencing ill-health is non-existent. We have a comprehensive understanding of the range of factors that may impact on presenteeism behavior, but that stops short at the decision-making process that takes place before presenteeism is enacted. In this chapter, we propose a model of presenteeism decision-making, which encapsulates both absenteeism and presenteeism as potential outcomes of the same decision process. Building on the literatures relating to decision-making, sickness presenteeism, health behavior, and organizational behavior, we outline the key decision-making principles and steps that can shape presenteeism decisions and thus presenteeism behavior. This model offers the basis for understanding what interventions may be appropriate to help optimize attendance decisions, support functional presenteeism, and more effectively support employee health and productivity.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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