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Free tools for HR leaders

Presenteeism Cost Calculator

Estimate what it costs your business when people show up but are not able to do their best work.

Your numbers

Hidden productivity loss
 
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Where Compono fits

A wellbeing survey gives you a snapshot. It does not tell you which teams are quietly carrying too much, or where pressure is building before it shows up in sick days. Existing HR tools record the leave and the survey score (the process risk). Compono Engage reads the behavioural signals that point to strain earlier (the people-insight risk), so support reaches people while it still helps. Built on decades of psychometric research rather than AI hype, and trusted by employers across ANZ.

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How it's calculated

The core figure is number affected x average salary x productivity-loss percentage, with associated absence days added on top. Number affected comes from your headcount and the percentage you estimate are currently impaired. Australian research puts the cost at roughly A$3,200 per employee with mental illness each year, and up to A$5,600 for severe conditions (KPMG and Mental Health Australia, Investing to Save, 2018). Long-standing Australian research also finds presenteeism costs more than absenteeism. Adjust the inputs to reflect what you know about your own people.

Common questions

What is presenteeism?

Presenteeism is when people come to work but are not able to perform at their usual level, often because of illness, stress or burnout. They are present, so the lost productivity does not show up in absence records, which is why it tends to go unmeasured.

Why does presenteeism cost more than absenteeism?

Absence is visible and finite, so teams can plan around it. Presenteeism is ongoing and invisible, affecting more people for longer, and it can spread as workloads shift onto colleagues. Long-standing Australian research (Medibank, Sick at Work) finds the presenteeism bill is the larger of the two.

Are these numbers a diagnosis of my team's mental health?

No. This calculator gives a business-level estimate of productivity cost using published benchmarks. It is not a clinical or diagnostic tool, and it says nothing about any individual. Treat it as a prompt to look at workload, support and culture.

Where do the benchmark figures come from?

The per-employee cost range comes from KPMG and Mental Health Australia's Investing to Save research (2018). These are population-level averages, so your real figure will vary with your industry, roles and the support already in place.

Figures are estimates using published benchmarks. Sources shown above; rates reviewed annually.