Risk factors associated with respiratory infectious disease-related presenteeism: a rapid review

Abstract

Background: Workplace transmission is a significant contributor to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreaks. Previous studies have found that infectious illness presenteeism could contribute to outbreaks in occupational settings and identified multiple occupational and organizational risk factors. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to investigate presenteeism particularly in relation to respiratory infectious disease (RID). Hence, this rapid review aims to determine the prevalence of RID-related presenteeism, including COVID-19, and examines the reported reasons and associated risk factors. Methods: The review followed a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search approach and focused on studies published in English and Chinese. Database searches included MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI) and preprint databases MedRxiv and BioRxiv. Results: The search yielded 54 studies, of which four investigated COVID-19-related presenteeism. Prevalence of work presenteeism ranged from 14.1% to 55% for confirmed RID, and 6.6% to 100% for those working with suspected or subclinical RID. The included studies demonstrated that RID-related presenteeism is associated with occupation, sick pay policy, age, gender, health behaviour and perception, vaccination and organisational factors including workplace culture and peer pressure. Conclusions: This review demonstrates that presenteeism or non-adherence to isolation guidance is a real concern and can contribute to workplace transmissions and outbreaks. Policies which would support workers financially and improve productivity, should include a range of effective non-pharmaceutical inventions such as workplace testing, promoting occupational health services, reviewing pay and bonus schemes and clear messaging to encourage workers to stay at home when ill. Future research should focus on the more vulnerable and precarious occupational groups, and their inter-relationships, to develop comprehensive intervention programs to reduce RID-related presenteeism.

Lost time: COVID‐19 indemnity claim reporting and results in the Wisconsin workers' compensation system from March 12 to December 31, 2020

“…Such factors risk compound disparities and compromise public health. For those who need more leave time than available, the lack of COVID‐19 WC protections for most Wisconsin workers encourages presenteeism 27,40 with the potential to raise risks to individual workers as well as sustain COVID‐19 outbreaks in both occupational and community settings 41,42 . The lack of compensation can also undermine public health efforts by discouraging workers from testing, quarantining, or disclosing contact status to avoid absences.…”

Prevalence of and risk factors for burnout and occupational stress among couriers: A systematic review

“…Across the studies, quality ranged from 3/10 to 7/10. Most systematic reviews consider 6 or 7 and above as high quality (Daniels et al, 2021; Farsad-Naeimi et al, 2020; J. Wang et al, 2021).…”

Contact patterns of UK home delivery drivers and their use of protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

“…Lack of access to paid sick leave is one of the main risk factors for respiratory infectious disease-related presenteeism. [31] Providing access to paid sick leave may therefore help to improve adherence to public health measures such as self-isolation.…”