The cost of medical presenteeism

The cost of medical presenteeism: "The researchers, primarily from the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies at Cornell University and the health-information company Medstat, found that as much as 60 percent of the total cost of worker illness stems from ''on-the-job productivity losses'' -- exceeding what companies spend on medical and disability benefits and sick days. The biggest productivity drains, according to the study, are relatively benign ailments like headaches, allergies and arthritis. Another recent study, conducted by Walter Stewart, a health researcher, calculated that presenteeism costs American businesses more than $150 billion per year in decreased productivity."