Explaining a Dark Side: Public Service Motivation, Presenteeism, and Absenteeism

TY - JOUR

T1 - Explaining a Dark Side

T2 - Public Service Motivation, Presenteeism, and Absenteeism

AU - Ulrich Thy, Jensen,

AU - Andersen, Lotte Bøgh

AU - Holten, Ann-Louise

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - Public service motivation (PSM) has many bright sides, but recent studies also find dark sides, connected to, for instance, higher stress and burnout. However, results on the PSM–absenteeism association are inconclusive. One reason could be that PSM increases presenteeism (going to work even when ill), which in turn increases absenteeism and counteracts—or even exceeds—PSM-based reductions of absenteeism. Based on a three-wave panel study of Danish public and private sector employees, we find a strong positive association between PSM and presenteeism and indications that the PSM–absenteeism link is mediated by presenteeism. The findings suggest that going to work even on days when employees feel ill is a potential dark side of PSM and that it may have long-term consequences for the extent to which employees are absent from their jobs due to sickness. This cautions managers not to expect that high PSM automatically guarantees high performance and low absence.

AB - Public service motivation (PSM) has many bright sides, but recent studies also find dark sides, connected to, for instance, higher stress and burnout. However, results on the PSM–absenteeism association are inconclusive. One reason could be that PSM increases presenteeism (going to work even when ill), which in turn increases absenteeism and counteracts—or even exceeds—PSM-based reductions of absenteeism. Based on a three-wave panel study of Danish public and private sector employees, we find a strong positive association between PSM and presenteeism and indications that the PSM–absenteeism link is mediated by presenteeism. The findings suggest that going to work even on days when employees feel ill is a potential dark side of PSM and that it may have long-term consequences for the extent to which employees are absent from their jobs due to sickness. This cautions managers not to expect that high PSM automatically guarantees high performance and low absence.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - public service motivation

KW - presenteeism

KW - sickness absenteeism

KW - panel data

U2 - 10.1177/0734371X17744865

DO - 10.1177/0734371X17744865

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0734-371X

VL - 39

SP - 487

EP - 510

JO - Review of Public Personnel Administration

JF - Review of Public Personnel Administration

IS - 4

ER -