Presenteeism is a phenomenon in which employees are present at work even though they cannot function fully due to a physical or mental illness. It is quite direct and rational that when employees are preoccupied with physical or mental sicknesses, it is undoubtedly very hard to sustain concentration for a longer period or be productive at work.
The main reasons for presenteeism are as follows.

• Presenteeism due to mental illnesses
• Presenteeism due to physical illnesses
• Presenteeism due to external emotional issues
• Employees conducting personal affairs repeatedly for a significant amount of time at the expense of productive work

Furthermore, presenteeism is also associated with 5 main psychological demands at work, namely, work fast, work intensively, work effort, time availability, and conflicting demands. As a result, work-related exhaustion and fatigue can affect not only work productivity but also the quality of life. Also, other detrimental effects start to arise after presenteeism becomes commonplace.

The main symptoms of presenteeism are disinterest in work goals, a declining standard of work, lack of engagement and low-quality work relationships, irritability, moodiness, signs of frustration, loss of motivation, self-doubt, decreased sense of achievement, detachment, and well as higher vulnerability to catching cold or other allergies.
The productivity, morale, and engagement of everyone else are ultimately impacted by presenteeism. And eventually, there will be a hidden and indirect massive financial cost for businesses and organizations due to productivity issues. Moreover, it will be a huge burden for societies as it fills up with people who have compromised physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

With the prevailing trends, it is essential to analyze why employees feel compelled to report to work when they cannot function properly. Also, as organizations and individuals, what measurements can we take to eliminate or control the situation? It is crucial to identify whether such a problem prevails within you or your organization. Especially when it’s come to an organization or a business, revising disciplinary actions as well as policies regarding absenteeism or working while sick should definitely be checked and upgraded in order to prevent or eliminate this situation. Moreover, educating employees about possible mental and emotional risks will not only help individuals but also adds more profits to business organizations in the long run. Another critical step is to boost the employee morale periodically while not setting up or encouraging any bad examples such as “Putting in extra time,” “Working while being sick,” etc.

As this is an emerging health problem that affects human productivity and quality of life, thus it is vital to acknowledge the problem and take measures to control and prevent the situation.