Examining the antecedents and conceptualisations of presenteeism and absenteeism in the workplace and its impact on teleworkers: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Presenteeism and absenteeism impact an individual’s ability to work efficiently. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated their effect on teleworkers. The current literature regarding presenteeism and absenteeism is broad, with various definitions of both phenomena making it difficult for researchers to measure accurately. This scoping review protocol aims to examine existing definitions of presenteeism and absenteeism in the workplace and focus on the antecedents for why they occur among teleworkers. The scoping review protocol has been pre-registered on Open Science Framework (osf.io/ur5a6). Online databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ABI Inform Global, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Business Source Premier will be searched to identify studies investigating presenteeism and absenteeism. Inclusion criteria will include individuals 18 or older who are part of the working population and currently employed in a teleworking environment for at least 50% of the working hours. The findings of this review will be of interest to companies and health professionals who seek to develop more practical policies and guidelines to assist those who engage in presenteeism and absenteeism.