When it comes to workplace productivity, illness is often the silent culprit behind countless lost hours. The most common cause of absenteeism is sickness—and, unfortunately, accoring to OSHA the workplace itself is one of the primary environments where diseases spread.
However, while absenteeism is a well-known issue, a far more insidious problem is presenteeism. This occurs when employees show up to work despite being unwell. It might seem like a dedicated choice, but it’s far from harmless. A single sick employee will spread illness to coworkers, creating a domino effect that turns one case of presenteeism into multiple cases of absenteeism. And that’s a cost no business should have to bear.
Visit us at welloInc.com and discover how our Ai-powered solutions can transform workplace health and reduce absenteeism
Shift the Paradigm: Attack Presenteeism to Solve Absenteeism
To effectively tackle absenteeism due to illness, we need to change the focus to presenteeism—when employees come to work sick. This isn’t just about individual health; sick employees often spread infections to coworkers, creating more absenteeism and disruption.
The problem is compounded because many employees don’t even realize they’re sick or contagious. Without visible symptoms, they assume they’re fine, but the risk to others remains.
The first step to solving this problem is identifying it. Presenteeism often goes unnoticed because detecting sickness without clear signs is challenging. That’s why proactive solutions are essential. Using tools like Wello Ai's health screening systems, businesses can detect potential sickness spreaders right at the door—even those who are unaware they’re ill.
AI Systems: Catching Illness at the Door
AI-powered systems like Wello AI are revolutionizing workplace health by identifying potential sickness spreaders right at the door. This proactive approach ensures that infections are addressed before they have a chance to spread throughout the workplace.
But here’s the key: once you know an employee is a potential spreader, the solution becomes straightforward. The biggest hurdle is identifying the problem in the first place.
After detection, businesses have several options to prevent further spread:
- Sanitary Precautions: For less severe cases, employers can request that the individual follow strict sanitary guidelines, such as wearing a mask, washing hands regularly, or maintaining physical distance from others.
- More Rigorous Actions: In workplaces with higher safety standards, the person may be sent home to rest and recover or even referred for additional clinical tests to ensure they’re not carrying a more serious infection.
This flexible approach ensures that businesses can adapt their response to the severity of the situation, reducing disruptions while protecting the health of the workforce.
Take the First Step Toward a Healthier Workplace
Illness doesn’t have to disrupt your business. With Wello Ai, you can catch sickness before it spreads, protect your team, and keep operations running smoothly. It all starts with identifying the problem.
Visit us at welloInc.com and discover how Ai-powered solutions can transform workplace health and reduce absenteeism