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

Objective: 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. Methods: 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. Results: WHO-5 scores were lower among workers who experienced presenteeism or absenteeism than those who experienced neither (presenteeism: beta = -1.011, P < 0.0001, absenteeism: beta = -0.403, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Presenteeism and absenteeism were associated with lower level of well-being. We suggest that their management is important for maintaining the health of Koreans.