Endometriosis and its effects on workplace absenteeism and presenteeism: disrupting inequality regimes

Endometriosis and its effects on workplace absenteeism and presenteeism: disrupting inequality regimes | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Endometriosis and its effects on workplace absenteeism and presenteeism: disrupting inequality regimes Danielle Howe, Michelle O'Shea, Sarah Duffy, Allie Eathorne, Mike Armour This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5363991/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Endometriosis symptoms, including persistent pelvic pain and fatigue, profoundly affect many people’s ability to undertake paid employment, globally the condition affects between 10-14% of women/those presumed female at birth. Despite its prevalence there is a paucity of research examining supports that might help employees manage their symptoms. The present research investigates how employee endometriosis symptom management shapes workplace presenteeism and absenteeism; while also problematising the organisational practices strengthening inequities for this employee cohort. Individuals engaged in paid employment in Australia (389 respondents) with a self-reported endometriosis diagnosis completed an online survey. Data collected included demographics, symptom experiences, treatment preferences, impacts of endometriosis on work/ career trajectory and disclosure experiences. Results showed that endometriosis symptoms negatively shape absenteeism, presenteeism and career trajectories. Workplace flexibility (hybrid work, breaks, bathroom amenity use) and supportive managers contributed to enhanced productivity (reduced absenteeism and improved presenteeism). Overall, age was the most significant factor influencing absenteeism (P=0.007) and presenteeism (P=0.001), with younger employees reporting greater workplace impacts. Implementing guidelines that prioritise flexibility and inform/educate managers on workplace supports, and challenging the workplace norms (re)producing inequality regimes (discriminating against people with endometriosis based on their gender and ability) emerged as effectual strategies increasing workplace productivity and wellbeing. Endometriosis Menstrual cycle Menopause Absenteeism Presenteeism Workplace productivity Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5363991","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":372445683,"identity":"c50c76db-e5c4-4b6a-bba3-d95956561e97","order_by":0,"name":"Danielle Howe","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2986-8287","institution":"NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia. 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Despite its prevalence there is a paucity of research examining supports that might help employees manage their symptoms. The present research investigates how employee endometriosis symptom management shapes workplace presenteeism and absenteeism; while also problematising the organisational practices strengthening inequities for this employee cohort. Individuals engaged in paid employment in Australia (389 respondents) with a self-reported endometriosis diagnosis completed an online survey.\u0026nbsp; Data collected included demographics, symptom experiences, treatment preferences, impacts of endometriosis on work/ career trajectory and disclosure experiences.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003eResults showed that\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003eendometriosis symptoms negatively shape absenteeism, presenteeism and career trajectories. Workplace flexibility (hybrid work, breaks, bathroom amenity use) and supportive managers contributed to enhanced productivity (reduced absenteeism and improved presenteeism). Overall, age was the most significant factor influencing absenteeism (P=0.007) and presenteeism (P=0.001), with younger employees reporting greater workplace impacts.\u0026nbsp; Implementing guidelines that prioritise flexibility and inform/educate managers on workplace supports, and challenging the workplace norms (re)producing inequality regimes (discriminating against people with endometriosis based on their gender and ability) emerged as effectual strategies\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/strong\u003eincreasing workplace productivity and wellbeing.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Endometriosis and its effects on workplace absenteeism and presenteeism: disrupting inequality regimes","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-11-11 02:54:48","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5363991/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"a195bc9a-46c0-4a87-8009-2db3f1ffdfee","owner":[],"postedDate":"November 11th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-11-11T02:54:48+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-11-11 02:54:48","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5363991","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5363991","identity":"rs-5363991","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"WvIrzKhiLBfengagbw6Ux","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}