Why Absenteeism Is Important For The Organization?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The impact of absenteeism is certainly a big enough problem that organizations should understand how it affects individual, team and organizational performance. Absenteeism can affect individual productivity . Simply put, if someone works less, they’re likely to be less productive.

What is absenteeism and its causes in an Organisation?

Some of the main reasons for absenteeism include workplace harassment, family-related issues, illness, and job hunting . Absenteeism can result in higher costs for employers. Other employees often have to pick up the slack, which may result in a drop in morale.

Why is it important to manage absenteeism?

If your organization does not manage absence, then there is likely to be a high cost in operational and financial terms. It is important that managers introduce an efficient absence management system to drive down absenteeism , and prevent it as much as possible.

What are major reasons for absenteeism?

  • Minor Illness. ...
  • Workplace Bullying Or Harassment. ...
  • Mental Health Issues. ...
  • Major Illness And Long-Term Conditions. ...
  • Family Issues. ...
  • Approved Leave. ...
  • Commuting Issues. ...
  • Team And Management Issues.

What are effects of absenteeism?

Impact on Individual Productivity

Absenteeism can affect individual productivity. Simply put, if someone works less, they’re likely to be less productive. Employers should consider root causes, which include burnout , disengagement, as well as those that may require accommodations, such as child care or illness.

What are the two types of absenteeism?

Human Resources professionals suggest that there are two kinds of absenteeism. Culpable absenteeism is absenteeism when the employee doesn’t provide a legitimate reason for missing work. Non-culpable absenteeism is absenteeism when the employee does give a legitimate reason for missing work.

How is absenteeism managed?

Absence management is about reducing employee absenteeism (usually due to illness or injury) through policies and procedures . In order to have an effective impact, these policies and procedures will need to be communicated to both employees and managers, with management/HR taking a pro-active role in applying them.

How does absenteeism affect the economy?

The economic impact of reduced performance as a result of absenteeism is relatively simple to estimate unlike that of presenteeism. Productivity losses resulting from presenteeism have been shown to be significantly higher than such losses resulting from absenteeism [2], yet these costs are not recognized by employers.

What is an important measure to manage the problem of absenteeism?

Communication remains top priority when dealing with absenteeism. Communicating and willing to work together to achieve a common goal is a main reason that managing this pattern effectively are ways to avoid absenteeism in the workplace.

How can absenteeism affect productivity?

When they miss work often, their performance is bound to suffer, as they would have lost time on projects, training and updates. All of which can lead to low morale in the work environment. Reduced productivity : With declining performance come required productivity in quality and quality of work.

What are the types of absenteeism?

  • Sickness. One of the most frequent types of absenteeism. ...
  • Holiday. ...
  • Bereavement / Compassionate. ...
  • Travel disruption. ...
  • Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave. ...
  • Witness at court / Jury duty. ...
  • Appointments. ...
  • Training / Disciplinary.

What is a good absenteeism rate?

As a rule of thumb, a 1.5% absence rate is a healthy rate (pun intended). Illness is impossible to prevent for 100% and taking 3-4 days per year off because of a severe cold or another ailment is fine.

What are the effects of absenteeism on students?

Schoeneberger’s “Longitudinal Attendance Patterns” study, excessive absenteeism increases the chances of a student eventually dropping out of school , which can lead to long term consequences for these students, such as lower average incomes, higher incidences of unemployment, and a higher likelihood of incarceration.

What is the effects of absenteeism in academic performance?

Marburger [17] who studied on absenteeism and undergraduate exam performance found that the overall absenteeism reduced the average final exam marks by 2.3% . In addition to that, the findings from Mohammed [18] also found that the class absenteeism negatively impacts students’ ultimate course results.

Can an employee be dismissed for absenteeism?

Generally, if there has been no prior instance of absenteeism, the employer is not entitled to dismiss . But if the absence is coupled with insubordination, dismissal may be justified. ... If an employee fails to report for duty for an extended period, what the employer must do before a dismissal can be called fair.

How do you explain absenteeism?

Absenteeism refers to the habitual non-presence of an employee at their job . Habitual non-presence extends beyond what is deemed to be within an acceptable realm of days away from the office for legitimate causes such as scheduled vacations, occasional illness, and family emergencies.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.