14 DAY TRIAL // Scientists say that supportive supervisors can improve workplace presenteeism among employees. A new study suggests that this holds true even when employees' colleagues believe absence is justified.
Interestingly, the research group found that employees tend to be influenced by their peers into thinking that it's OK to skip work only if they perceive their supervisors as not being supportive.
“Leadership will do well to provide front line supervisors with training and resources so that they can be supportive of their employees who deal with tough work environments,” University of Haifa expert Michal Biron, PhD, the lead author of the research, explains, as quoted by PsychCentral.
Experts believe that the correlation they found may come from the employee's desire not to cause any problems for their supervisors through absenteeism. They may also be trying to reciprocate the positive treatment they get. Now this is something that employers would do well to remember.