ABSTRACT

Sickness presenteeism refers to the practice of continuing to work during illness. Although not always damaging, working while sick can impair employees' wellbeing and professional functioning. As the causes of presenteeism are multi-faceted, insight into the experiences of different occupational groups is needed. This study examines the prevalence of sickness presenteeism among academic employees, the factors that encourage such behaviour and the implications for wellbeing and performance. Qualitative data obtained from 5209 academics working in UK universities were subjected to thematic content analysis. Most respondents (90%) reported working while sick at least sometimes, with more than half (52%) doing so often or always. Seven interlinked themes were identified: workload pressure; non-negotiable deadlines; lack of cover; culture and working conditions; being professional, working strategically and personal choice. Although presenteeism among academics can be therapeutic and functional, the findings suggest it has serious implications for their wellbeing and performance.

摘要

生病出勤是指在生病期间继续工作的做法。虽然并不总是有害的，但带病工作会损害员工的幸福感和专业功能。由于出勤率的原因是多方面的，因此需要深入了解不同职业群体的经历。本研究调查了学术雇员中疾病出勤的普遍性、鼓励这种行为的因素以及对健康和绩效的影响。从在英国大学工作的 5209 名学者获得的定性数据进行了主题内容分析。大多数受访者 (90%) 表示至少有时会在生病时工作，超过一半 (52%) 经常或总是这样做。确定了七个相互关联的主题：工作量压力；不可协商的最后期限；缺乏掩护；文化和工作条件；专业，战略性工作和个人选择。尽管学者之间的出勤可以具有治疗性和功能性，但研究结果表明它对他们的福祉和表现具有严重影响。