PRESENT BODY, ABSENT MIND: A QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS OF PRESENTEEISM IN THE PERCEPTION OF FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVANTS

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the repercussions of presenteeism among federal public servants. It is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional study conducted through 38 semi-structured interviews with public servants working in the same division and directorate of a federal higher education institution in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Bardin's thematic content analysis, complemented by an exploratory lexical analysis inspired by textual statistics. The analysis identified four thematic categories: (1) conceptions of presenteeism as a dissociation between physical presence and psychological availability; (2) impacts on work quality, productivity, concentration, decision-making, and care safety; (3) organizational and cultural determinants, including lack of staff replacement, work overload, fear of judgment, and the institutional valorization of attendance; and (4) subjective repercussions characterized by exhaustion, psychological distress, irritability, guilt, normalization of pain, and the chronicity of illness. The findings demonstrated that presenteeism extends beyond mere physical presence at work, constituting a multidimensional phenomenon sustained by institutional factors that encourage employees to remain at work despite illness and significant functional limitations. Presenteeism proved to be a complex phenomenon structurally driven by organizational and cultural factors, compromising workers' health, work quality, and the sustainability of public services. The findings highlight the need for institutional strategies aimed at health promotion, strengthening organizational support, and preventing presenteeism, thereby contributing to healthier and more sustainable work environments.