New research finds employees feel pressure to work while sick, which has been shown to cost companies billions

Employees often feel pressure to work while sick, leading to lost productivity, deviant behaviors such as theft and mistreatment of coworkers and intent to leave the organization, according to new research led by University of South Florida Assistant Professor of Psychology Claire Smith. The cost of such behavior, known as "presenteeism," can be staggering—as much as $150 billion annually, according to Harvard Business Review.