[Health related absenteeism: methodological comparison]

The article compares three methods and approaches for analysing professional absenteeism: (1) the empirical method which consists in carrying out statistical analyses on work absentee data, (2) the explanatory method which aims at testing and establishing correlations between absenteeism related to illness and other potential factors, and (3) the clinical method which consists in carrying out an in-depth study of the employees concerned and their work situation and conditions. The comparison of these three methods shows the benefits and limitations of each. Namely, the study highlights the empirical and explanatory methods which appear foremost to be most effective in bringing new knowledge to the study of absenteeism, in as much as the clinical approach constitutes a mechanism and means for bringing about change in problematic organisational situations from the perspective of occupational health. Occupational health policies that aim at reducing absenteeism would certainly benefit from a complementary implementation of all three approaches.