New research reveals New Zealand businesses are losing billions of dollars a year as a result of unwell workers pushing through instead of taking time out to recover.

In a new report by Umbrella Wellbeing, 'presenteeism' - when employees turn up to work while physically or mentally unwell - has been found to erode productivity and result in costly mistakes from staff.

Umbrella Wellbeing Principal Psychologist Dougal Sutherland says 'presenteeism' creates significant costs for employers - but the data is difficult to track. 

"It's very hard to count - but an estimate is that it's costing over $40 billion in lost productivity every year in New Zealand."

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New research reveals New Zealand businesses are losing billions of dollars a year as a result of unwell workers pushing through instead of taking time out to recover.
In a new report by Umbrella Wellbeing, 'presenteeism' - when employees turn up to work while physically or mentally unwell - has been found to erode productivity and result in costly mistakes from staff.
Umbrella Wellbeing Principal Psychologist Dougal Sutherland says 'presenteeism' creates significant costs for employers - but the data is difficult to track.&nbsp;
"It's very hard to count - but an estimate is that it's costing over $40 billion in lost productivity every year in New Zealand."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Dougal Sutherland: Umbrella Wellbeing Principal Psychologist on the economic costs of unwell workers pushing through

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0dd1e5a6-81a3-47ac-8ff0-b2ac006cc633/transcript