Presenteeism is Costing You 10x More Than Absenteeism: How to Fix It
Your team is showing up. But are they really working?
In this game-changing episode, host Bernadette Boas sat down over the summer with Rebecca Reed, global Workplace Well-being Specialist and creator of the Mental Flex Method, to expose the silent productivity killer costing organizations 10 times more than sick days: presenteeism.
When employees are physically present but mentally checked out, it's not just a morale problem—it's a financial crisis. In the UK, presenteeism accounts for £24 billion of the £51 billion annual cost of poor mental health. In the US, that's $1,500 per employee per year compared to just $150 for absenteeism.
This isn't another "add a wellness program" conversation. This is about recognizing trauma responses disguised as productivity, fixing broken systems instead of blaming people, and creating psychological safety that actually works.
If you're an HR leader, C-suite executive, manager, or anyone responsible for team performance, this episode will fundamentally change how you approach workplace wellbeing.
What You'll Learn
✅ The shocking cost difference between presenteeism and absenteeism (and why you should care)
✅ How to identify when hyper-productivity is actually a fear response, not ambition
✅ The real reason your wellness initiatives fail (hint: it's not the program itself)
✅ How "accidental managers" are contributing to team disengagement
✅ The hidden influencers in your workplace who can drive culture change without C-suite buy-in
✅ Nervous system regulation techniques that actually work for high performers
✅ Practical strategies to create psychological safety where people feel safe to challenge, struggle, and be human
Key Timestamps:
[00:00:00] Introduction: The silent productivity killer destroying your business
[00:01:00] Meet Rebecca Reed: From personal wellbeing journey to global workplace specialist
[00:03:00] What is presenteeism? Understanding "bums on seats, but nobody's home"
[00:04:00] The shocking cost: Why presenteeism is 10x more expensive than absenteeism
[00:06:00] The "accidental manager" problem: Why promotional ladders create unprepared leaders
[00:12:00] The hyper-productivity trap: How fight response disguises itself as high performance
[00:14:00] Creating safety: The foundation of everything in workplace wellbeing
[00:22:00] The HR burnout crisis: Why the people caring for everyone are drowning
[00:24:00] The Influentials: How 1/10 of people drive what the other 9/10 think and do
[00:32:00] Leadership strategies: Four ways to support your team's wellbeing right now
[00:36:00] Final takeaways and resources
Featured Guest
Rebecca Reed Global Workplace Wellbeing Specialist | Founder of Siendo | Creator of the Mental Flex Method
Rebecca helps organizations transform their approach to workplace wellbeing through science-backed strategies that address root causes, not just symptoms. After her own profound wellbeing journey, she's dedicated to helping leaders understand the real drivers of burnout, disengagement, and presenteeism.
🌐 Learn more: siendo.co.uk
Resources Mentioned
📖 "Finding Inner Safety" by Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan - Essential reading on nervous system regulation and creating internal safety
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