Calculating the Cost of Presenteeism in India

In India’s high-growth, high-pressure work culture, many organisations celebrate employees who turn up no matter what. Yet beneath this dedication lies an invisible cost: presenteeism – when employees attend work despite being unwell, injured, or mentally unfit to perform at their best. Unlike absenteeism, presenteeism is harder to measure, but its impact on productivity, quality, and wellbeing is often far greater.

What is Presenteeism?

Presenteeism occurs when employees are physically present at work but unable to function at full capacity due to health problems, fatigue, stress, or discomfort. For instance:

• An analyst with chronic back pain struggles to focus, taking twice as long to finish reports.
• A customer service agent with wrist strain types slower, impacting call handling time.
• A project manager working with constant neck pain becomes irritable and disengaged, lowering team morale.

These employees are not absent, but their reduced productivity carries silent financial costs for their organization.

The Financial Impact of Presenteeism

While absenteeism costs are visible in sick leave payments, overtime cover, or project delays, presenteeism costs are hidden in underperformance, errors, and lost potential. Global studies indicate that presenteeism costs employers 2-3 times more than absenteeism.

Calculating its cost involves:

1. Identifying the prevalence of health-related underperformance.
   Surveys show that in India, musculoskeletal disorders and eye strain are major causes of presenteeism due to poor ergonomics and extended working hours.
2. Estimating productivity loss.
   If an employee operates at 70% efficiency due to discomfort, you lose 30% of their productivity daily. For a ₹1,000,000 salaried employee, that is ₹300,000 lost annually.
3. Considering the wider impact.
   Errors from unfocused staff, lower team morale, and lost customer satisfaction further amplify costs.

Even conservative calculations show that presenteeism costs Indian organisations lakhs of rupees per employee each year – a silent drain on profitability and growth.

Why Ergonomics Is Central to Reducing Presenteeism

One of the most preventable causes of presenteeism is poor ergonomics. Employees forced to work in discomfort – whether due to unsuitable chairs, non-adjustable desks, or inadequate equipment – inevitably underperform. Common issues include:

• Back pain from non-ergonomic chairs lacking lumbar support.
• Neck and shoulder pain from monitors positioned too low or high.
• Wrist pain from standard mice causing repetitive strain.
• Fatigue from prolonged static sitting without height adjustable desks to allow movement.
• Headaches from reading documents flat on desks without document holders.

These discomforts may not lead to immediate absence, but they reduce concentration, speed, and quality – the hallmarks of presenteeism.

Proactive Steps to Calculate and Reduce Presenteeism Costs

1. Conduct Ergonomic Risk Assessments

Begin with digital self-assessments or professional ergonomic reviews to identify risks across your teams. Our assessments highlight workstation issues, employee discomfort, and product needs clearly and efficiently.

2. Quantify Productivity Loss

Ask employees to rate how their discomfort affects their work. Multiply estimated productivity loss by their salary to understand the annual cost of presenteeism per employee. Then extrapolate across your workforce to uncover the total cost.

3. Provide Ergonomic Solutions

Invest in high-quality ergonomic products:

• Chairs with adjustable lumbar support to prevent back pain.
• Height adjustable desks to promote posture variation and reduce fatigue.
• Ergonomic mice to minimise wrist and forearm strain.
• Document holders to align paperwork with screen height, preventing neck pain.

Our curated range is designed to address these exact needs, enabling employees to work comfortably and efficiently.

4. Train Staff and Managers

Ergonomic training ensures employees know how to use their equipment correctly, while managers learn to spot signs of discomfort early, preventing issues from escalating into long-term presenteeism or absence.

5. Review and Adapt Regularly

Ergonomic needs change with roles, workloads, and health conditions. Schedule annual reviews to ensure continued comfort and productivity.

The Strategic Business Case

Presenteeism is not just an employee wellbeing issue; it is a business performance challenge. By addressing ergonomic risks proactively, organisations reduce hidden productivity losses, improve work quality, and enhance employee morale.

At Workplace Adjustments, we combine expertise in ergonomic assessments with a full range of solutions including chairs, height adjustable desks, ergonomic mice, and document holders to keep your workforce healthy, engaged, and operating at their peak.