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. 2021 Apr;42(4):388-391.
doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.453. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Healthcare personnel absenteeism, presenteeism, and staffing challenges during epidemics

Douglas W Challener  1 , Laura E Breeher  2 , JoEllen Frain  3 , Melanie D Swift  2 , Pritish K Tosh  1 , John O'Horo  1   4
Affiliations

Healthcare personnel absenteeism, presenteeism, and staffing challenges during epidemics

Douglas W Challener et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Rate of unscheduled absences compared to total hours worked and influenza-like activity in Minnesota over the calendar year. Each point represents one 2-week pay period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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