Computerized attendance surveillance to reduce absenteeism

Computerized data on absenteeism were used as a basis for employee counseling and disciplinary action, and the effect of this program on absenteeism was assessed. In the pharmacy department of an 1100-bed tertiary-care hospital, a microcomputer program provides weekly print-outs of number of occurrences of absence, reason for absence, and total hours absent for each employee. When an employee is within 10 absent hours or one occurrence of exceeding departmental absenteeism standards, these data are used in informal counseling. If absenteeism standards are exceeded, oral or written warning is given within one week after the violation. Absenteeism among pharmacists and technicians was compared for a 90-day period after implementation of this program and the same period during the year before implementation. The computerized attendance-surveillance program was associated with decreases in the mean number of absence occurrences for both pharmacists and technicians, fewer warnings issued to each group, and an increase in the mean number of hours worked.