Fear of missing out?: Linking workplace changes and presenteeism

• Published in: Australian journal of public administration Vol. 80; no. 4; pp. 690 - 712
• Main Authors: Wynen, Jan, Boon, Jan, Op de Beeck, Sophie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Australian Public Service; Australian Public Service Commission; Behavior; Behavior change; Change agents; Effects; Employees; Evaluation; Illnesses; Job characteristics; Job stress; Occupational stress; organisational change; Organizational change; Organizations; Overtime; presenteeism; Public buildings; Staffing; Uncertainty; Work; Work environment; Working hours; Workplaces; AUSTRALIA
• ISSN: 0313-6647; 1467-8500
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8500.12517

Why do employees continue to work during illness? So-called presenteeism behaviour is a topic of great managerial and societal importance as it is connected to a series of negative individual and organisational outcomes. A growing body of research points to the importance of workplace factors in shaping employee stress and uncertainty and, ultimately, presenteeism behaviour. Curiously though, the impact of workplace changes on presenteeism behaviour has not been examined, even though the potential stress-inducing effects of such change are well-recognised. Building on a data set from the Australian Public Service, we examine how workplace changes are related to presenteeism behaviour. Our findings show that workplace changes generally provoke presenteeism behaviour. Specifically, cutback-related changes appear to cause presenteeism. This finding is relevant in times when many organisations are confronted with major budget cuts. 'Brief summary': This article explores the link between working during illness, or presenteeism behaviour, and workplace changes. Presenteeism behaviour is a topic of great managerial and societal importance as it is connected to a series of negative individual and organisational outcomes. A growing body of research points to the importance of workplace factors in shaping employee stress and uncertainty and, ultimately, presenteeism behaviour. Curiously though, the impact of workplace changes on presenteeism behaviour has not been examined, even though the potential stress-inducing effects of such change are well-recognised. Building on a data set from the Australian Public Service, we examine how workplace changes are related to presenteeism behaviour. Our findings show that workplace changes generally provoke presenteeism behaviour. Specifically, cutback-related changes appear to cause presenteeism. This finding is relevant in times when many organisations are confronted with major budget cuts.