Phenonemon of sick ‘presence’ at work examined

The Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO) has recently published a report on ‘sick presence’ – that is, the tendency to go to work despite feeling sick – among academics in Sweden. The study shows that sick presence appears to be common among Swedish academics. The report is based on a survey of members of trade unions affiliated to SACO. The results show that 37% of all respondents have at least twice during the past 12 months gone to work despite being sick.

Background

The increasing amount of sick leave and its prolonged duration have been debated frequently in recent years in Sweden. On the other hand, until now, no data have been available on the number of people who go to work despite being sick – or so-called ‘sick presence’. This is remarkable since sick presence could potentially lead to a considerable production decrease for companies. It is unlikely that a person with a health problem is as productive as they normally are when healthy at work. In addition, sick presence could lead to prolonged sickness and a risk of infecting other colleagues, clients, customers or students.

Aim of health and work study

In February 2009, the Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (Sveriges Akademikers Centralorganisation, SACO) published a report entitled ‘Health and work’. The aim of this report is to highlight sick presence among Sweden’s academics. The report investigates which academic groups have a higher instance of sick presence compared with others. The study also focuses on the potential links between sick presence and sick leave, and different factors relating to the working environment.

Survey methodology

The results presented in the report are based on a survey conducted in 2006 among members of the different trade unions affiliated to SACO. The target group of this analysis is employed SACO members aged between 26 and 64 years. According to SACO’s membership statistics, 421,000 members were working at the time of the survey. For the purposes of this study, they are referred to as academics. Out of this group, a sample of 10,065 members were randomly selected, some 8,825 of whom belonged to the target group – that is, SACO members aged 26–64 years. In total, 5,384 SACO members participated in the survey, representing an overall response rate of 61%.

The results relate to the proportion of members giving a certain response and, on the basis of a regression analysis, to the connection between a studied variable and other variables in the model. Moreover, the results of the analysis are portrayed as ‘relative risk’, which implies the risk of a certain result for one group in relation to the risk of the same result for a reference group. If, for example, the risk of a certain outcome is 0.5 among men and 0.4 among women, the relative risk between the two groups is 1.25 (0.5/0.4=1.25). In this example, the risk of men being exposed to a particular outcome is hence 25% greater than it is for women.

Results of survey

Highest and lowest sick presence

To gain a better understanding of sick presence among academics, SACO asked the following question in the survey: ‘Has it, during the past 12 months, happened that you have gone to work in spite of the fact that you, in considering your health condition, should have stayed at home?’ The immediate results of the survey showed that women’s sick presence was higher than men’s and that the lowest amount of sick presence was found in the youngest age group – those aged 26–29 years of age (see figure). In total, 37% of the respondents revealed that they had, at least on two occasions during the past 12 months, gone to work despite being sick.

Regression analysis

Since there is always a danger that the results presented can have other reasons and backgrounds than what is illustrated in the figure, the study is complemented with a regression analysis based on the risk quotas described above. For example, the figures on sick presence were tested against those belonging to different sectors, determined by trade union membership, with the following results.

• The members of Akademikerförbundet SSR, which organises a number of academics, such as those dealing with social, behavioural, political and workforce issues, the National Union of Teachers in Sweden (Lärarnas Riksförbund, LR) and the Swedish Medical Association (Sveriges Läkarförbund) appeared to have a higher relative risk or likelihood of going to work in spite of sickness, compared with members of the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers (Sveriges Ingenjörer), who were the reference group. Overall, members of the former three organisations were 40% more likely to go to work despite feeling sick, compared with the reference group.

• However, the group most influenced by sick presence comprises the members of the Swedish Military Officers’ Association (Officersförbundet), who showed a 50% greater chance of going to work despite sickness, compared with the reference group of engineers.

Other variable comparisons showed that academics who experience certain work environment conditions were more likely to have a higher instance of sick presence. Such conditions include:

• not having enough control over own work tasks in order to be able to plan ahead;

• working under particularly tight time constraints;

• regularly working a significant amount of overtime.

Commentary

From these findings, it is clear that the incidence of sick presence is relatively extensive among academics in Sweden. This might lead to a production decrease due to employees’ reduced ability to perform the required work tasks, as well as the risk they pose of infecting others, which may also, indirectly, lead to a production decrease. Hence, a debate on these issues – as opposed to a debate on sick leave – is particularly useful. More research would be valuable regarding not only academics but also other working groups.

Reference

Hildingsson, K. and Ljunglöf, T., Hälsa och arbete (1.3Mb PDF) [Health and work], Stockholm, Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations (SACO), 2009.

Lisa Olsson, Oxford Research