Relationship between subjective mobilization and presenteeism in the illness of workers

Abstract

Despite the growing increase in sick people due to the social precariousness of work, the perspective of blaming the victim reduces illness as individual weaknesses. This article aims to understand the subjective mobilization experiences and their relationship with presenteeism in workers away from the work environment due to illness. These workers were contacted from the Worker's Health Reference Center – CEREST in a capital city in northeastern Brazil. The methodology has an exploratory, descriptive and qualitative nature. A sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used, which were analyzed through thematic content analysis with the theoretical support of the psychodynamics of work. Overload experiences were evidenced to achieve production goals; the search for symbolic recognition; loneliness at work; the shame of the illness and the fear of being fired. The article promotes reflections on the contribution of psychodynamics in the operationalization of management practices.