The health-performance framework of presenteeism: towards understanding an adaptive behaviour

Karanika-Murray, M ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4141-3747 and Biron, C, 2020. The health-performance framework of presenteeism: towards understanding an adaptive behaviour. Human Relations, 73 (2), pp. 242-261. ISSN 0018-7267

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Abstract

The health and financial costs of presenteeism are high and well-documented. Paradoxically, presenteeism also has a positive side, which has been largely overlooked. Emerging evidence shows that presenteeism can be a choice that offers a range of positive benefits to the 'presentee' (employees who work through illness). In this conceptual paper, we view presenteeism as purposeful and adaptive behaviour: presenteeism is a dynamic process that serves the purpose of balancing health constraints and performance demands in tandem. We propose a 2×2 framework of presenteeism (therapeutic, functional, overachieving, and dysfunctional) and suggest that the success of the presenteeism adaptation process depends on the availability of work resources. We examine the role of internal and external resources for functional presenteeism by drawing on conservation of resources theory and self-determination theory. When the workplace is supportive and provides adequate resources to aid adaptation, presenteeism can be a sustainable choice for maintaining performance under impaired health. This framework contributes to a better understanding of presenteeism by describing it as an adaptive process, considering presentees as heterogeneous groups, and exploring the role of work resources for balancing health and performance demands. It sketches new avenues for research and practice and the effective manage-ment of presenteeism, health, and performance.

Item Type:	Journal article
Publication Title:	Human Relations
Creators:	Karanika-Murray, M. and Biron, C.
Publisher:	Sage
Date:	1 February 2020
Volume:	73
Number:	2
ISSN:	0018-7267
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1177/0018726719827081 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	16 Nov 2018 11:18
Last Modified:	26 May 2022 15:21
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/35016

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