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Use of focus groups to study absenteeism due to illness
1Dept of Occupational Health, Tandberg Data A/S, Oslo, Norway.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Workplace well-being, organization, and leadership significantly impact employee sick leave. These factors are more influential than workload or demographics in understanding absenteeism due to illness.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Organizational Psychology
- Sociology of Work
Background:
- Employee absenteeism due to illness is a complex issue.
- Nonmedical factors significantly influence sick leave decisions.
- Understanding the interplay between work environment and absenteeism is crucial for businesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between working conditions and absenteeism due to illness.
- To identify key workplace factors influencing employee sick leave.
- To investigate these relationships within both industrial and insurance company settings.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative research methodology.
- Conducted 10 focus groups within each of the two companies (industrial and insurance).
- Participants were randomly selected from departments with similar work tasks.
Main Results:
- Feeling of well-being at work, particularly social relations security, emerged as a primary influence on absenteeism.
- Work organization and the department leader were also identified as significant factors affecting sick leave.
- Factors like employee numbers, gender ratios, group norms, age, work-related illness, substance abuse, and workload were deemed less important.
Conclusions:
- Social well-being, work organization, and leadership are critical determinants of sick leave.
- Findings suggest a strong link between a positive work environment and reduced absenteeism.
- The study's conclusions have potential relevance for improving employee attendance in various organizational settings.