Absenteeism Among Healthcare Workers: Job Grade and Other Factors That Matter in Sickness Absence

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Healthcare worker (HCW) absenteeism significantly disrupts hospital operations and patient care.
• Identifying factors contributing to sick leave is essential for workforce management and service continuity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the predictors of sick leave episodes among healthcare workers (HCWs).
• To analyze the relationship between demographic, occupational, and health factors and absenteeism in a Lebanese tertiary medical center.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of sick leave data from 2850 HCWs between 2015 and 2018.
• Stratification of sick leave by diagnosis and application of bivariate and negative binomial regression analyses to identify predictors.

Main Results:

• The average number of sick leave episodes was 10.6 per HCW over four years.
• Low job grade was the strongest predictor of increased sick leave (IR=1.52).
• Female sex, older age, marriage, current smoking, and pre-existing medical conditions were also significant predictors of higher absenteeism.

Conclusions:

• Sick leave among HCWs is influenced by a combination of demographic, work-related, and health factors.
• Further research is needed to explore socio-economic determinants of health outcomes and inform strategies to support HCW well-being.