Presenteeism

Abstract

Existing literature defines presenteeism as being at work despite being sick, working more than the time assigned, and not fully engaged at work. Various tools have been applied to measure presenteeism, yet those addressed only one aspect, being at work despite being sick. Therefore, current study attempts to develop a quantitative scale to measure presenteeism, fulfilling a theoretical gap by incorporating the other two aspects left behind. Data were collected from executives of four selected manufacturing firms in Western Province by applying the survey method. The questionnaire consisted of 13 items, covering the three aspects of presenteeism as (i) being at work despite being sick, (ii) working more than the time assigned, and (iii) not fully engaged at work. 207 questionnaires were qualified for the final exploratory factor analysis. One variable from thirteen proposed variables has to be eliminated as a disqualified variable in developing the measuring instrument. Four factors were extracted as the achievement of work outcomes, not fully engaged at work, working more than the time assigned, and avoidance of distractions under the developed presenteeism instrument with 0.711 of validity and 0.589 of reliability levels. The developed scale fills the gap of non-availability of a quantitative measuring instrument capturing the whole concept of presenteeism, covering its identified dimensions in the literature. This scale facilitates measuring presenteeism and identify its variations associated with other variables and demographic factors.