PRESENTEEISM IN HIGHER EDUCATION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF ACADEMICS: ITS SOURCES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR ITS PREVENTION

Abstract

Presenteeism is a condition in which the employee cannot be mentally present at the workplace and his/her mind is exposed to different stimuli while working. Although the person is physically in the workplace, his/her mind is somewhere else. The current study was conducted with the participation of academics. The current study reveals the causes of presenteeism and suggestions proposed by academics for its prevention. The study employed a phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 36 academics working in various faculties at Kafkas University to collect the data of the study. The collected data were analysed with content analysis. According to the findings of the study, academics experience presenteeism due to personal, psychological and social reasons. It was concluded that working with solution-oriented managers, socializing, having a well-planned life and receiving psychological support are effective in preventing presenteeism. The study provides important information for the understanding of presenteeism and its prevention in academia.