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‘Presenteeism’ tackled in Nov. 14 continuing education conference Learn how to deal with “present-eeism,” the costly phenomenon of when employees show up for work but are not fully engaged and productive in work.   The daylong conference, “Are your employees clocked in but checked out?” is sponsored by MUSC’s Employee Assistance Program, Institute of Psychiatry, and the Office of Community and Professional Education. The conference begins with a sign-in and breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Institute of Psychiatry Auditorium, and ends at 4:15 p.m. Nov. 14.   More damaging than absenteeism, presenteeism is linked to stress, fatigue, depression, substance abuse, relationship problems, headaches, back pain and allergies. As a result, these people tend to be absent at more than twice the normal rate. These employees, whose problems are often personal than technical, also face the risk of losing their jobs over someone who makes mistakes but is more productive.   Conference speakers will share how to detect and deal with: sleep deficiency in workers; enhance stress management in the workplace; how to detect substance abuse in employees and how to appropriately assist employees with these problems, which primarily is alcoholism; and how to improve overall workplace morale while boosting productivity.   Those who would benefit from attending this conference include human resources personnel, business owners, supervisors and managers. Continuing education credit is available. The fee is $65.   For more information, contact Jeni Bowers Palmer at bowersj@musc.edu or 792-2848.     Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.