In this week’s HEALTH SQUARED Agri Update on Food For Mzansi, we discuss a workplace phenomenon often swept under the mat. It’s called presenteeism. You know, those colleagues who come to work, but don’t do much? It’s costing you…
Look, we’re not mentioning any names, but every business also suffers from presenteeism. No, we didn’t mean absenteeism. Unlike absenteeism, presenteeism is when people are on the job, but not fully functioning.
Harvard Business Review reports that presenteeism appears to be a much costlier problem than absenteeism, which is its productivity-reducing counterpart.
Agility Agri’s director of marketing, rewards and distribution, Bianca Viljoen, warns that presenteeism is costing Mzansi employers nearly three times as much as absenteeism does.
You know, people show up for work, but personal issues, often financial or family problems, are actually hindering and distracting them from the job at hand.
“Things like that cause significant damage in terms of productivity and functionality while they are at work,” explains Viljoen. “We can see that managing presenteeism and risk is a vital element of employee well-being, especially in the farming community.”
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Researchers have found that less time is actually lost from people staying home than from them showing up, but not performing at full capacity. And as the country aims to move its workforce forward after the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to also take an honest look at presenteeism, also in the agricultural sector.
Economic impact of mental illness
It should come as no surprise that mental health challenges can also drive presenteeism.
Instead of taking a sick day, employees with these problems often turn up for work when they should be staying at home to get better.
According to Viljoen employers tend to think that if they subsidise medical aid or any type of health care benefit for employees, then they have done their part. However, just giving your employee access to some level of cover might not be enough.
“Mental health has also become very important to look at, as we noticed over the course of the coronavirus lockdown and pandemic. Speaking to a psychologist telephonically could be a big contribution to overall employee well-being,” says Viljoen.
At Agility, all of these telephonic services are included in a free programme, although there is also a more comprehensive employee wellness programme which has proven to be a lifesaver for those with agricultural enterprises.
The comprehensive option offers specific services, like HIV counselling and testing, and other problems that can be prevalent in your employees’ lives. It also includes face-to-face consultations rather than just telephonic conversations.
“These services are provided at a discounted rate,” says Viljoen. “We understand the value and the impact it has on the agribusiness sector.”
Furthermore, Agility gives employees the peace of mind that they also have access to legal and professional financial advice for matters that could have a significant impact on their psychological and mental well-being.
Giving employees access to these benefits makes sense, says Viljoen, otherwise they would not have access to go-to resources when they need professional help.
Discover the Agility Dashboard
One of the other integrated well-being and healthcare solutions provided by Agility Agri is the Dashboard deport. It gives employees a brief overview of all the products mentioned above, as well as the impact they have had on your employees’ productivity and access to care.
The Agility Dashboard allows you to actually analyse and track employee health and well-being and how this impacts the employer. Through doing this, Agility can inform employers of the appropriate health cover benefits to consider. All of the personal information remains confidential, but health problems can be attended to in a way that improves the employee’s wellbeing and overall productivity.
This is beneficial for building a more sustainable employee base and business in the long run, says Viljoen.
“That’s what Agility Agri is all about. The programme for employee benefits is specifically designed to make it flexible and tailored to an employer’s specific needs.”
If you want to find out more about Agility’s Health Squared options, feel free to reach out to Marcia Le Roux via email marcialr@agilitydistribution.co.za or by calling 011 796 6425.
Now on Food For Mzansi TV: Agility on presenteeism
Built around the needs of SA farmers
Agility Agri is committed to Mzansi’s vibrant agricultural sector. Viljoen says, “We built the entire programme around the needs of farmers and farmworkers, which are very different to those of a corporate business setting.”
According to Viljoen, Agility has structured its programme in a way to facilitate the lifestyle requirements of employees specific to their individual circumstances and income-level. It helps farmers to take care of their employees and reduce their problems, also with presenteeism.
“An employee well-being programme is something that goes above and beyond medical scheme cover or primary healthcare cover,” says Viljoen. “It’s a softer, more holistic look at the overall well-being of employees.”
This programme also offers various services that cater to the overall well-being of employees, such as dedicated nursing support lines for emotional wellbeing and even financial advice.
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