
PRESENTEEISM COSTS 4.2% of GDP.
Loading player...
Presenteeism, being physically present at work but mentally absent and unproductive due to illness, injury, stress or burnout, comes at a greater economic cost than absenteeism, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has not only increased but gone digital and virtual.
Employees who show up and attempt to work despite their poor mental health cost South Africa almost 7 times as much in lost productivity as employees who are absent due to depression. The cost of mental health-related presenteeism has been estimated at R96 500 per employee annually, totaling R235 billion or 4.2% of GDP, versus R14 000 per employee and R33 billion annually for absenteeism.
Employees who show up and attempt to work despite their poor mental health cost South Africa almost 7 times as much in lost productivity as employees who are absent due to depression. The cost of mental health-related presenteeism has been estimated at R96 500 per employee annually, totaling R235 billion or 4.2% of GDP, versus R14 000 per employee and R33 billion annually for absenteeism.

