Incentive - January 2008 - (Page 48)

Present but Unproductive The Trouble with Presenteeism in the Workplace By Yvonne Ventresca ou’ve been up all night, coughing and sniffling. When the alarm goes off, you topple over a tower of tissues on your nightstand while hitting the “off ” button. Your head is pounding and you’re miserable. Do you call in sick? No, you dutifully go to work. In the past, management frequently viewed this as a sign of commitment. “What a trooper,” the boss would say. But research has shown that it might be better for everyone if you just stayed in bed, instead of providing an example of what experts call “presenteeism.” What is presenteeism? According to www.wordspy.com, a Web site devoted to neologisms, it is “the feeling that one must show up for work even if one is too sick, stressed, or distracted to be productive; the feeling that one needs to work extra hours even if one has no extra work to do.” Managers are familiar with absenteeism, the productivity loss associated with employees who stay home from work. And many incentive programs encourage perfect attendance through rewards. However, the hidden costs of presenteeism are often less analyzed, despite its prevalence. “The majority of Y 48 | Incentive | January 2008 | incentivemag.com http://www.wordspy.com http://incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - January 2008

Incentive - January 2008
Contents
Editor’s Note: Out of SITE
In The News
Cover Story: Include a Meeting, Improve Morale
Case Study: DHL Delivers Recognition
Incentive Primer: How To Use Promo Products
How Bob Nardelli Rallied Chrysler’s Dealers
Incentive Interview: Ken Blanchard Says Be Nice
TV’s Extreme Makeover Motivates Giving
Pre-Employment Motivation
The Daycare Dilemma
Happy Employees Shouldn’t Mix with Sick Employees
Incentive Research: Consumer Promotions Report
In Her Shoes: Winning Approval Of Flextime
Travel News
Field Report: Barcelona
Field Report: Bermuda
Golf: Follow The Pros
potentials Here and Now
Watches As Jewelry
Awards: Online Gift Cards
Tech Gadgets for 2008
Last Word: Stanley Bing Bashes Bully Bosses

Incentive - January 2008