Going to work or working from home when you’re ill? – An experimental study of decisions regarding presenteeism.

Based on a factorial survey experiment involving 3,532 respondents - conducted as a follow-up to the 2024 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey - a recent study by the IAW examines the conditions under which employees choose to work while ill versus taking sick leave. Participants evaluated hypothetical scenarios involving illness, with variables such as the severity of the condition, the risk of contagion, workload, and pressure to be present.

The findings indicate that the severity of the illness is the primary factor in the decision-making process. Employees with the option to work from home are more likely to continue working while ill, effectively shifting their work from the workplace to a home environment. Organizational and social factors play a significant role in this decision, particularly in cases of moderately severe illness. In instances of more serious illness, those who choose to continue working are primarily driven by career-related and reputational concerns.

Study