Association Between Presenteeism/Absenteeism and Well-being Among Korean Workers.

Abstract

Absenteeism and presenteeism refer to loss in productivity related to sick leave and illness, respectively, which affect physical and mental health. We examined the association between presenteeism/absenteeism and level of well-being among Korean workers. We analyzed data from 44,019 participants who completed the 2017 Korean Working Conditions Survey. The World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) was used to screen the well-being level. We examined the association between presenteeism/absenteeism and level of well-being using multiple linear regression. WHO-5 scores were lower among workers who experienced presenteeism or absenteeism than those who experienced neither (presenteeism: β = -1.011, P < 0.0001, absenteeism: β = -0.403, P < 0.0001). Presenteeism and absenteeism were associated with lower level of well-being. We suggest that their management is important for maintaining the health of Koreans.