Combining absenteeism and presenteeism: A person-centred approach

Purpose Despite starting evidence showing a positive relationship between absenteeism and presenteeism (Miraglia & Johns, 2016), the two attendance behaviors have been primarily investigated separately. We aim to fill this gap by identifying profiles of individuals based on their levels of absenteeism and presenteeism. Furthermore, we are interested in examining the association of such profiles with well-established correlates of working while ill, including productivity loss and subsequent attendance behavior. Design/Methodology Employees’ responses (N = 506) to a self-report questionnaire were matched with recordbased absence data at Time 1 as well as productivity loss and subsequent absenteeism and presenteeism at Time 2. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to identify attendance profiles, and ANOVA was employed to explore initial differences among profiles with regard to individual characteristics, employee attitudes, and outcomes. Results The optimal LPA model for the sample indicated three profiles. Significance differences among profiles emerged with regard to individual characteristics (e.g., Psychological Capital), perceptions of the supervisor and colleagues, employee attitudes (e.g., work engagement), and future absenteeism and presenteeism. Limitations We could not control for the individual health status. Moreover, correlates of profiles were investigated cross-sectionally. Research/Practical Implications The study contributes to the relatively-recent presenteeism literature by analyzing presentees’ profiles. It also offers insights for absence management in organizations, by showing how individuals may substitute absenteeism with presenteeism and the factors able to exacerbate such tendency. Originality/Value To our knowledge, this is the first study using a person-centred approach to understand the interplay between absenteeism and presenteeism.