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Norms for Performance in the Workplace in Healthy People: Data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2011

Thilo Deckersbach ,
Jonathan P. Stange  and
Andrew A. Nierenberg
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Abstract

Introduction

Psychiatric conditions affect multiple areas of psychosocial functioning, including functioning in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to establish norms for absenteeism (work days missed due to mental or physical illness) and work performance (quality of work performed when at work) for healthy individuals.

Methods

We selected 300 individuals without psychiatric or medical conditions from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication study (NCS-R). Absenteeism and work performance were assessed using the NCS-R version of the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ).

Results

Employees missed an average of 5.1 days of work in the past year. Absenteeism varied across occupations, with performers of routine tasks, office clerks, and professionals exhibiting the greatest variance in days missed. Work performance ratings were skewed toward high performance ratings and did not differ across occupations. Gender, age, race/ethnicity, and education level did not substantially moderate absenteeism and work performance norms.

Discussion

Skewed ratings for work performance are consistent with previous findings using the HPQ. This may reflect a general tendency that individuals rate themselves favorably when they compare themselves to others.

Conclusion

This study provides normative tables for absenteeism and work performance in individuals without psychiatric or medical conditions, against which individuals with such conditions may be compared.

Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 16 , Issue 7 , July 2011 , pp. 143 - 152
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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Footnotes

Dr. Deckersbach has been a consultant to BrainCells, Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research, Medacorp, National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts, Oxford University Press, and Systems Research and Applications Corporation. Mr. Stange reports no affiliations with or financial interest in any organization that may pose a conflict of interest. Dr. Nierenberg consulted to or served on the advisory boards of Abbott, Appliance Computing, Brain Cells, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EpiQ, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Jazz, Merck, Novartis, Pamlab, Pfizer, PGx Health, Pharmaceutica, Schering-Plough, Sepracor, Shire, Somerset, Takeda, and Targacept; has received research support from Cederroth, Cyberonics, Forest, Medtronics, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, the National Institute of Mental Health, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen, Pamlab, Pfizer, Shire, and the Stanley Foundation through the Broad Institute; has received past support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cederroth, Eli Lilly, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lictwer Pharma, Pfizer, and Wyeth; has received honoraria from the MGH Psychiatry Academy (MGHPA activities are supported through Independent Medical Education grants from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Janssen); earns fees for editorial functions for CNS Spectrums through MBL Communications, and Psychiatric Annals through Slack; receives honoraria as a CME executive director for the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry through Physicians Postgraduate Press; has been on the speaker's bureaus of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cyberonics, Eli Lilly, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, and Wyeth; has received royalties from Cambridge University Press and Belvoir Publishing; owns stock options in Appliance Computing; and owns the copyrights to the Clinical Positive Affect Scale and the MGH Structured Clinical Interview for the Montgomery Asberg Depression Scale, exclusively licensed to the MGH Clinical Trials Network and Institute.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by a K-23 Award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to Dr. Deckersbach. Parts of this research have been presented at the annual meeting of the MGH Clinical Research Day, Boston, 2010, and at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Francisco, 2010.

References

Dr. Deckersbach has been a consultant to BrainCells, Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research, Medacorp, National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts, Oxford University Press, and Systems Research and Applications Corporation. Mr. Stange reports no affiliations with or financial interest in any organization that may pose a conflict of interest. Dr. Nierenberg consulted to or served on the advisory boards of Abbott, Appliance Computing, Brain Cells, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EpiQ, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Jazz, Merck, Novartis, Pamlab, Pfizer, PGx Health, Pharmaceutica, Schering-Plough, Sepracor, Shire, Somerset, Takeda, and Targacept; has received research support from Cederroth, Cyberonics, Forest, Medtronics, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, the National Institute of Mental Health, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen, Pamlab, Pfizer, Shire, and the Stanley Foundation through the Broad Institute; has received past support from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cederroth, Eli Lilly, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Lictwer Pharma, Pfizer, and Wyeth; has received honoraria from the MGH Psychiatry Academy (MGHPA activities are supported through Independent Medical Education grants from AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Janssen); earns fees for editorial functions for CNS Spectrums through MBL Communications, and Psychiatric Annals through Slack; receives honoraria as a CME executive director for the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry through Physicians Postgraduate Press; has been on the speaker's bureaus of Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cyberonics, Eli Lilly, Forest, GlaxoSmithKline, and Wyeth; has received royalties from Cambridge University Press and Belvoir Publishing; owns stock options in Appliance Computing; and owns the copyrights to the Clinical Positive Affect Scale and the MGH Structured Clinical Interview for the Montgomery Asberg Depression Scale, exclusively licensed to the MGH Clinical Trials Network and Institute.

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by a K-23 Award from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to Dr. Deckersbach. Parts of this research have been presented at the annual meeting of the MGH Clinical Research Day, Boston, 2010, and at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Francisco, 2010.