ap findings a

© Yankelovich, Inc. 2006The Segmentation Company a division of Yankelovich 1© Yankelovich, Inc. 2008The Segmentation Company a division of Yankelovich

prepared for: CIGNAMay 2008

The 2008 Health Leadership Series:

Absenteeism and Presenteeism

The New Productivity Gap?


• About half (46%) of those employed have missed at least one day for personal reasons in the past six months

46%

39%

13%

10%

8%

4%

4%

7%

53%

1%

Any (Net)

1-5 (Subnet)

1

2

3

4

5

6 or more (Subnet)

None

Don't know/Refused

How many days in the past six months did you miss work for reasons other than a holiday or a vacation?

Nearly Half of All Employees Missed Work in the Past Six Months for Reasons other than Holiday or Vacation

Average Number of Days Missed per

Employee in the last 6 months:

3(Among total, N = 1,149)

*Base: Among Total, N = 1,149


• 47% of those who missed work in the last 6 months say the main reason was due to an illness

• While 22% say they missed work due to family issues, such as caring for a sick child, or problems with other family members

47%

22%

9%

6%

5%

3%

2%

2%

2%

2%

12%

1%

Illness (Net)

Family-related issues (Net)

Had to go to the doctor

Took a mental health day/Needed a break

Injury

Pain

Difficulty commuting/Transportation issues

Tired/Fatigued

Funeral/Death/Bereavement

Court/J ury Duty

Other

Don't know/Refused

What were the main reasons for missing work on those particular days?

The Principal Reasons for Their Absence: Being Sick & Family Issues

Main Reasons %

Illness 47

Ordinary illness/Sick (cold, flu, cough, etc) 41

Ongoing illness/Condition (diabetes, heart, etc)

6

Family-related issues 22

Cared for a sick child 10

Cared for another sick family member 6

Problems with other family members 4

Problems with kids 3

Couldn't find child care 2*Base: Among those who missed any days of work in the past 6 months for reasons other than holiday/vacation, N = 528

(Unaided, pre-coded list. Multiple responses accepted.)


• Just under two-thirds of employees went to work in the last six months even though they were sick or had to deal with some other issue

• On average, they went to work despite their ailment or issue seven times in the last six months

61%

40%

6%

8%

9%

5%

12%

21%

37%

2%

Any (Net)

1-5 (Subnet)

1

2

3

4

5

6 or more (Subnet)

None

Don't know/Refused

And how many days in the last six months did you go to work even though you were sick or had some other issue that you had to deal with outside of work? Other issues, for example, could be

a sick child at home or problems with other family members.

Many “Press On” and Go to Work Anyway

Average Number of “Presenteeism” Days

per Employee in the last 6 months:

6.9(Among Total, N = 1,149)



• During a typical week, employed U.S. adults spend 2.4 hours at work trying to resolve their personal issues

55%

47%

26%

11%

3%

2%

5%

8%

44%

1%

Any (Net)

1-5 (Subnet)

1

2

3

4

5

6 or more (Subnet)

None

Don't know/Refused

During a typical week at work, how many hours would you say you spend on resolving personal issues such as making doctors appointments, communicating with a teacher

from your child’s school, talking with a caretaker for an aging parent, etc.?

Over Half Spend Time at Work Trying to Resolve Their Personal Issues

Average Number of Hours in a Typical Week Spent

Resolving Personal Issues (per Employee):




• During these particularly stressful or eventful weeks, employed adults spend an average of 4.7 hours while at work trying to resolve their personal issues

68%

51%

20%

12%

6%

5%

7%

17%

27%

5%

Any (Net)

1-5 (Subnet)

1

2

3

4

5

6 or more (Subnet)

None

Don't know/Refused

How about during a particularly stressful or eventful week, what is the most time you have ever spent resolving personal issues while at work?

During a Particularly Stressful or Eventful Week, Over Two-Thirds Spend Time Resolving Personal Issues at Work

Average Number of Hours During a Stressful/Eventful

Week Spent Resolving Personal Issues (per

Employee):




• 62% of those who went to work even though they were sick or had to deal with some other issue say they were less productive on those days

11%

51%

37%

0%

1%

Significantly less

productive

Somewhat less

productive

J ust as productive

More productive (vol.)

Don't know/Refused

On those days where you went to work even though you were sick or had to deal with some other issue, to what extent did it impact your productivity? Were you…

Presenteeism Leads to Lower Productivity

62% say theywere less productive onsuch days

*Base: Among those who went to work even though they were sick or had some other issue in the past 6 months, N = 696


• Three in four of those who were less productive say they are concerned about going to work when they are not able to perform their best

Yes, 61%

No, 37%

Not sure/Maybe, 2%

Do you think your co-workers noticed that you were less productive?

More than Half Say Their Co-Workers Noticed This Lower Productivity

75%

36%

39%

25%

17%

8%

Concerns you (Net)

Yes, it concerns you very much

Yes, somewhat

Doesn't concern you (Net)

No, not very much

No, it doesn't concern you at all

Does it concern you to go to work when you’re not able to perform your best? Would you say…

*Base: Among those who went to work even though sick or had some issue and were less productive, N = 429


38%

25%

8%

8%

6%

6%

4%

4%

2%

2%

16%

2%

Needed at work/Work ethic (Net)

Needed the money

Thought I could tough it out

Couldn't find someone to cover shift

Had a deadline

Ran out of/Didn't want to use PTO/Sick/Vacation days

Too hard/Stressful to catch up on work when I get back

Employer does not offer sick time or paid-time off

Had an important meeting

Fear of getting fired

Other

Don't know/Refused

• Two-fifths of employees say they went to work anyway because of their work ethic, dedication to their job, or that their company/coworkers need them

• One in four say they went because they needed the money

Why did you feel the need to go to work even though you were sick or had some other issue?

For U.S. Employees: Duty Calls

*Base: Among those who went to work even though sick or had some issue in the past 6 months, N = 696

[Unaided, pre-coded list. Multiple responses accepted.]

Main Reasons %

Needed at work/Work ethic 38

Company/Co-workers need me 20

Didn't want to burden others with work/Absence

9

Didn’t want to look uncommitted 5

Strong work ethic 3

Dedicated to my job 1

Ran out of (or don’t want to use) vacation time/PTO/Sick days

6

Did not want to use my paid-time off days 4

Ran out of sick days 2

Ran out of vacation/PTO days 1


• With two-thirds reporting they do not get enough sleep

66%

45%

12%

33%

21%

34%

Don't get enough sleep

(Net)

Has impact (Subnet)

A significant impact

Somewhat of an

impact

No impact at all

You get enough sleep

To what extent has a lack of sleep made an impact on your work performance? Would you say it has had…

Nearly Half Say Lack of Sleep Has Made an Impact on Their Work Performance



• Half said they were less productive in the past week due to lack of sleep • Two-fifths said they were irritable, unable to focus, and/or had to put things off

85%

50%

43%

42%

40%

28%

18%

12%

9%

1%

13%

2%

Any (Net)

Were less productive

Were irritable

Were unable to focus

Put things off for another day

Made mistakes

Were late to work

Fell asleep

Left work early

Other

Lack of sleep does not impact my work performance

Don't know/Refused

How has a lack of sleep affected your work performance in the PAST WEEK?

Would you say you…

Lower Productivity, Irritability, and an Inability to Focus Are the Top “Side-Effects”

*Base: Among those whose lack of sleep has affected work performance, N = 515

[Aided list. Multiple responses accepted.]


• 88% of employed U.S. adults said they use at least one strategy so that lack of sleep will not impact their performance at work

88%

57%

50%

44%

41%

39%

20%

15%

7%

2%

4%

6%

2%

Any Strategy

You drink coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages

You drink lots of water

You listen to music

Taking a walk

Stretching

Napping

You take smoke breaks

You work on a puzzle

Other

None of these

Lack of sleep is not an issue (vol.)

Don't know/Refused

What strategies have you used so that lack of sleep won’t affect your performance at work? Would you say…

Strategies to Stay Alert: Caffeine is the Top Choice


[Aided list, multiple responses accepted.]


Survey Methodology

• Telephone interviews were conducted among a national probability sample of 1,149 part or full time employed individuals 18 years of age or older, living in private households in the continental United States.

• This random-digit-dial sample was fully replicated and stratified by region. Only one interview was conducted per household. All sample numbers selected were subject to up to four attempts to complete an interview.

• The interviews took place between the 8th and 11th of May, 2008.

• Data are weighted by age, gender, geographic region, and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the population.

• The sampling error for this study is +/- 2.9%.

• The sample comprised 61% self-described white collar, 25% blue collar, and 12% service workers, with 2% not reporting.

ap findings a

Documents

days of work

missing work

work performance

sick family issues

strong work ethic

atypical weekat work

personal issues

sick child