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Book Carole "Carole holds the attention of an audience at 100% plus with her energetic and professional style"
Sheila Pantry OBE
Motivational Speaker Carole Spiers Explains The Curious
Reverse Of The Absenteeism Problem: Presenteeism
We know all about the external pressures that force us to work ever-longer hours. But we seldom notice one other pressure from within - the curious psychological need to over-attend, or Presenteeism.
Obviously this is rooted in the puritan ethic, celebrating the virtues of hard work per se. But puritanism sits oddly with our automated hi-tech culture. On one hand, technology creates emergencies, so that we are seldom able to switch-off entirely, and feel we shouldn’t go home while our colleagues are still at work. But it also makes humans feel redundant, so we have to generate an artificial sensation of heroic effort. “Do you realise how late I worked last night…”
Questioning The Virtue Of Long Hours
Of course, Presenteeism may also be seen as a deliberate (and exaggerated) gesture of loyalty and high performance, possibly based on fear for one’s job. But managers should note that long hours do not always translate into more effective output, and that they may stem from inefficient time management anyway. They should also check that they are not setting an example of working over-long hours, which their employees are trying to emulate.
Over-Attendance - Summary
- There is a deep-rooted belief that attendance scores you points
- Technology may be giving employees an extra need to feel needed
- Long hours for their own sake are not automatically constructive
Another key insight from Carole Spiers, International Leading Authority on Corporate Stress,
Motivational Speaker and BBC Broadcaster.
