HealthJuly 14, 2026

presenteeism

/ˌprɛzənˈtiːɪzəm/

Definition

The act of showing up for work while physically or mentally unwell, resulting in decreased productivity and performance.

Etymology

The word is a modern construction combining 'present' and the suffix '-eeism' (derived from '-ism'), modeled after 'absenteeism'. It gained popularity in management and psychological literature in the early 1990s to describe the inverse of missing work.

In the news

In the article, the author highlights presenteeism as a 'sneaky' issue because it causes hidden losses in work quality and focus that do not appear on standard absence records. It serves as a reminder that being physically present at a desk is not the same as being fully productive.

This Overlooked Mental Health Issue Is Affecting How You Work (& Most People Don't Know They Have It)

Read the full article ↗

Yahoo Health

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