title: Understanding sickness presenteeism through the experience of immigrant workers in a context of economic crisis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous economic recessions show that immigrant workers may experience longer periods of unemployment, a situation that may lead employees to presenteeism, the act of working in spite of a health problem. This study explored perceptions about the factors that lead to presenteeism in immigrant workers considering the context of economic crisis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus group discussions were held (February 2012), with men and women from Colombia, Ecuador, and Morocco (n=44) living in Spain and selected by theoretical sample. A qualitative content analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four categories were identified as factors that influence the occurrence of presenteeism in a context of economic crisis: poor employment conditions, fear of unemployment, employer/employee relationship, and difficulties in finding temporary replacement workers. Furthermore, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and mental problems were related to presenteeism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important to develop strategies to protect workers from negative working conditions that are associated with deterioration of health.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Specialized Nursing, University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tanyse
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Galon
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Briones-Vozmediano
authors.forename: Andrés A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Agudelo-Suárez
authors.forename: Emily B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Felt
authors.forename: Fernando G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Benavides
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ronda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003105:Colombia / Q000208:ethnology; D057172:Economic Recession; D004484:Ecuador / Q000208:ethnology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000208:ethnology; D016272:Occupational Health; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Spain; economic recession; employment conditions; immigration; occupational health; presenteeism; working conditions