The ‘presenteeism’ health struggle for small businesses

If you are struggling with your mental health, is it better to come to work or stay off sick? You may think your employer would prefer you try to keep working, but many employers would prefer you take time off to feel better.

Presenteeism – going to work but being unable to perform at full capacity due to ill health – can sometimes be much more difficult for businesses to handle than absenteeism. And for small businesses with fewer resources to support mental health and wellbeing, these problems can become even more acute.

Small companies can be great places to work for reasons including close and informal working relationships and a family-like ethos.