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The impact of working conditions on sickness absence: a theoretical model and an empirical application to work schedules

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  • Cédric Afsa
  • Pauline Givord

Abstract

This paper explores how poor working conditions impact sickness absence through their effect on health. Our contribution is two-fold. First, we develop a static theoretical model based on the concept of health capital, wherein poor working conditions are partially compensated by higher wages. According to our model, the effect of working conditions on sickness absence is ambiguous. Second, we apply our model to the case of working time arrangements and test the effect of working irregular schedules or work around the clock on sickness absence, using data from the French Labor Force Survey on a specific population (male manual workers in private sector). As heterogeneity may lead to severe bias, we use propensity score matching methods. Our estimates show that working irregular schedules has a significant impact on sickness absence. The results are more mitigated for work around the clock. In any case, the extent crucially depends on age. Copyright Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

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  • Cédric Afsa & Pauline Givord, 2014. "The impact of working conditions on sickness absence: a theoretical model and an empirical application to work schedules," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 285-305, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:46:y:2014:i:1:p:285-305
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-012-0673-2
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    Cited by:

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    2. Nathalie Havet & Morgane Plantier, 2023. "The links between difficult working conditions and sickness absences in the case of French workers," LABOUR, CEIS, vol. 37(1), pages 160-195, March.
    3. Guertzgen, Nicole & Hank, Karsten, 2014. "Maternity leave and mothers' long-term sickness absence: Evidence from Germany," ZEW Discussion Papers 14-109, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    4. Daniel Arnold & Tobias Brändle & Laszlo Goerke, 2014. "Sickness Absence and Works Councils - Evidence from German Individual and Linked Employer-Employee Data," IAW Discussion Papers 107, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).
    5. François-Olivier Baudot, 2022. "Impact of Benzodiazepine Use on the Risk of Occupational Accident," Erudite Working Paper 2022-02, Erudite.
    6. A. Cazenave-Lacroutz & A. Godzinski, 2017. "Effects of the one-day waiting period for sick leave on health-related absences in the French central civil service," Documents de Travail de l'Insee - INSEE Working Papers g2017-06, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Working conditions; Health demand; Sickness absence; Work schedules; Matching estimator; I12; J22; J28; J81;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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