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Safety and the problem employee
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|November 1, 1976
Summary
Identifying employees with borderline performance and emotional instability is key. Physician-management counseling significantly improves job performance and reduces industrial accidents and absenteeism.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Industrial Psychology
- Workplace Safety
Background:
- A subpopulation of 5-7% of employees exhibit borderline performance and emotional instability.
- These issues often stem from attitudinal disturbances, sometimes exacerbated by physical illness.
- This group contributes disproportionately to unsafe acts and industrial accidents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a sub-group of problem employees.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of physician-management counseling.
- To demonstrate cost savings associated with improved employee performance.
Main Methods:
- Identification of employees with specific job performance characteristics (high accident frequency, high short-term absence).
- Implementation of selective physician-management counseling.
- Follow-up reviews of job performance within 3-6 months.
Main Results:
- Counseling led to improved job performance in 85% of employees without further disciplinary action.
- Significant correlation found between accident/absence rates and problem employee identification.
- Cost savings of $185 per employee per year were observed in a pilot group.
Conclusions:
- Physician-management counseling is an effective intervention for improving employee performance and safety.
- Addressing attitudinal disturbances can reduce industrial accidents and absenteeism.
- This approach offers significant cost savings for organizations.