IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i3p1761-d1039766.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Reduced Immune Fitness and Job Performance: Absenteeism, Presenteeism, and Associated Costs for the Dutch Economy

Author

Listed:
  • Annabel S. M. Sips

    (Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Noortje R. Severeijns

    (Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Aletta D. Kraneveld

    (Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Johan Garssen

    (Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Global Centre of Excellence Immunology, Nutricia Danone Research, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Joris C. Verster

    (Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
    Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

Abstract

Reduced immune fitness can have a significant negative impact on work performance. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of reduced immune fitness on job performance and associated costs for the Dutch economy. Data from n = 425 Dutch working adults (18–65 years old) who completed an online survey were analyzed to evaluate the number of days of absenteeism (not going to work) and presenteeism (working while sick) due to reduced immune fitness, and the performance level on days worked with reduced immune fitness. Data from for the year 2019 were analyzed. Participants reported 2.9 absenteeism days and 19 presenteeism days, with an average performance reduction of 22.8% when working on days with reduced immune fitness. Significantly more days of absenteeism and presenteeism were reported by women, individuals with a poorer immune fitness, and those with underlying disease. Performance impairment on days worked while experiencing reduced immune fitness was significantly greater among individuals with a younger age at the junior career level, those with underlying disease, and among highly educated individuals. The associated costs of reduced immune fitness were estimated at €4.3 billion for absenteeism and €6.4 billion for presenteeism. Together, the costs of reduced immune fitness for the Dutch economy in 2019 were estimated at €10.7 billion. These findings demonstrate that reduced immune fitness has a significant negative impact on the Dutch economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Annabel S. M. Sips & Noortje R. Severeijns & Aletta D. Kraneveld & Johan Garssen & Joris C. Verster, 2023. "Reduced Immune Fitness and Job Performance: Absenteeism, Presenteeism, and Associated Costs for the Dutch Economy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1761-:d:1039766
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/1761/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/1761/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Georges Dionne & Benoit Dostie, 2007. "New Evidence on the Determinants of Absenteeism Using Linked Employer-Employee Data," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 61(1), pages 108-120, October.
    2. Barmby, Tim, 2002. "Worker absenteeism: a discrete hazard model with bivariate heterogeneity," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 469-476, September.
    3. Aurora J. A. E. van de Loo & Nikki Kerssemakers & Andrew Scholey & Johan Garssen & Aletta D. Kraneveld & Joris C. Verster, 2020. "Perceived Immune Fitness, Individual Strength and Hangover Severity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-8, June.
    4. Livia J. F. Wilod Versprille & Aurora J. A. E. van de Loo & Marlou Mackus & Lizanne Arnoldy & Titia A. L. Sulzer & Sterre A. Vermeulen & Smedra Abdulahad & Hendrikje Huls & Ton Baars & Andrew Scholey , 2019. "Development and Validation of the Immune Status Questionnaire (ISQ)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pouliakas, Konstantinos & Theodossiou, Ioannis, 2010. "An Inquiry into the Theory, Causes and Consequences of Monitoring Indicators of Health and Safety at Work," IZA Discussion Papers 4734, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Dionne, Georges & Dostie, Benoit, 2008. "Correlated Poisson processes with unobserved Heterogeneity: Estimating the determinants of paid and unpaid leave," Working Papers 08-3, HEC Montreal, Canada Research Chair in Risk Management.
    3. Naci Mocan & Duha T. Altindag, 2013. "Salaries and Work Effort: An Analysis of the European Union Parliamentarians," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 123(12), pages 1130-1167, December.
    4. van Ommeren, Jos N. & Gutiérrez-i-Puigarnau, Eva, 2011. "Are workers with a long commute less productive? An empirical analysis of absenteeism," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 1-8, January.
    5. Pouliakas, Konstantinos & Theodoropoulos, Nikolaos, 2009. "Performance Pay as an Incentive for Lower Absence Rates in Britain," MPRA Paper 18238, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. repec:dgr:uvatin:20090014 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Maria De Paola & Valeria Pupo & Vincenzo Scoppa, 2009. "Absenteeism In The Italian Public Sector: The Effects Of Changes In Sick Leave Compensation," Working Papers 200916, Università della Calabria, Dipartimento di Economia, Statistica e Finanza "Giovanni Anania" - DESF.
    8. Marc-Arthur Diaye & Amal Hili & Rim Lahmandi-Ayed, 2012. "Employee ownership: does firm's size matter ?," Documents de recherche 12-02, Centre d'Études des Politiques Économiques (EPEE), Université d'Evry Val d'Essonne.
    9. Martin Zuba & Ulrike Schneider, 2013. "What Helps Working Informal Caregivers? The Role of Workplace Characteristics in Balancing Work and Adult-Care Responsibilities," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 34(4), pages 460-469, December.
    10. repec:lan:wpaper:2935 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Laszlo Goerke, 2017. "Sick pay reforms and health status in a unionised labour market," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 64(2), pages 115-142, May.
    12. Zhang, Xuelin, 2007. "Gender Differences in Quits and Absenteeism in Canada," Analytical Studies Branch Research Paper Series 2007296e, Statistics Canada, Analytical Studies Branch.
    13. Fiona Cocker & Angela Martin & Jenn Scott & Alison Venn & Kristy Sanderson, 2013. "Psychological Distress, Related Work Attendance, and Productivity Loss in Small-to-Medium Enterprise Owner/Managers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, October.
    14. Joris C. Verster & Lizanne Arnoldy & Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo & Aletta D. Kraneveld & Johan Garssen & Andrew Scholey, 2021. "The Impact of Having a Holiday or Work in Fiji on Perceived Immune Fitness," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-18, February.
    15. Ziebarth, Nicolas R. & Karlsson, Martin, 2010. "A natural experiment on sick pay cuts, sickness absence, and labor costs," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(11-12), pages 1108-1122, December.
    16. Hall, Caroline & Liljeberg, Linus & Lindahl, Erica, 2024. "Firm responses to a more generous insurance against high sick pay costs," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    17. Persson, Petra & Rossin-Slater, Maya, 2019. "When Dad Can Stay Home: Fathers' Workplace Flexibility and Maternal Health," IZA Discussion Papers 12386, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    18. Lorenz, Olga & Goerke, Laszlo, 2015. "Commuting and Sickness Absence," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113173, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    19. Persson, Petra & Rossin-Slater, Maya, 2019. "When Dad Can Stay Home: Fathers’ Workplace Flexibility and Maternal Health," CEPR Discussion Papers 13780, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    20. Lindgren, Karl-Oskar, 2012. "Workplace size and sickness absence transitions," Working Paper Series 2012:26, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    21. Böckerman, Petri & Bryson, Alex & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2012. "Does high involvement management improve worker wellbeing?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 660-680.
    22. repec:lan:wpaper:3029 is not listed on IDEAS
    23. Hensvik, Lena & Rosenqvist, Olof, 2015. "The strength of the weakest link: sickness absence, internal substitutability and worker-firm matching," Working Paper Series 2015:28, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:1761-:d:1039766. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.