Healthcare personnel absenteeism, presenteeism, and staffing challenges during epidemics.

OBJECTIVE

Presenteeism is an expensive and challenging problem in the healthcare industry. In anticipation of the staffing challenges expected with the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined a decade of payroll data for a healthcare workforce. We aimed to determine the effect of seasonal influenza-like illness (ILI) on absences to support COVID-19 staffing plans.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Large academic medical center in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Employees of the academic medical center who were on payroll between the years of 2009 and 2019.

METHODS

Biweekly institutional payroll data was evaluated for unscheduled absences as a marker for acute illness-related work absences. Linear regression models, stratified by payroll status (salaried vs hourly employees) were developed for unscheduled absences as a function of local ILI.

RESULTS

Both hours worked and unscheduled absences were significantly related to the community prevalence of influenza-like illness in our cohort. These effects were stronger in hourly employees.

CONCLUSIONS

Organizations should target their messaging at encouraging salaried staff to stay home when ill.