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Job attitudes and absenteeism: A study in the English speaking Caribbean

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  • Punnett, Betty Jane
  • Greenidge, Dion
  • Ramsey, Jase

Abstract

This paper examines the relationships of job attitudes (facets of job satisfaction and organizational commitment) and personality characteristics to absenteeism, in five manufacturing companies in Barbados, an English-speaking Caribbean country. The relationships examined are based on well-established theories from the developed world, especially the USA. In addition, individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and power distance were measured. The results show that an employee's levels of satisfaction with co-workers, activity, responsibility, and job security, as well as loyalty to the organization, are related to absenteeism. These results are similar to those found in past research in the developed world. The most important single predictor of absence was satisfaction with co-workers. Respondents were moderate on individualism, high on uncertainty avoidance, and low on power distance. The cultural scores are used to help interpret the results. The implications of the results are discussed in terms of expanding the reach of an established theory, and relative to decreasing absenteeism in Barbados.

Suggested Citation

  • Punnett, Betty Jane & Greenidge, Dion & Ramsey, Jase, 2007. "Job attitudes and absenteeism: A study in the English speaking Caribbean," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 214-227, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:42:y:2007:i:2:p:214-227
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rabinra N Kanungo & Richard W Wright, 1983. "A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study of Managerial Job Attitudes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 14(2), pages 115-129, June.
    2. Hackett, Rick D. & Guion, Robert M., 1985. "A reevaluation of the absenteeism-job satisfaction relationship," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 340-381, June.
    3. Michael H Morris & Duane L Davis & Jeffrey W Allen, 1994. "Fostering Corporate Entrepreneurship: Cross-Cultural Comparisons of the Importance of Individualism Versus Collectivism," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 25(1), pages 65-89, March.
    4. Leigh, J. Paul, 1985. "The effects of unemployment and the business cycle on absenteeism," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 159-170, May.
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    1. Benjamin Artz, 2012. "Does the Impact of Union Experience on Job Satisfaction Differ by Gender?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 65(2), pages 225-243, April.
    2. Hauff, Sven & Richter, Nicole Franziska & Tressin, Tabea, 2015. "Situational job characteristics and job satisfaction: The moderating role of national culture," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 710-723.
    3. Benjamin Artz & Ilker Kaya, 2014. "Job insecurity and job satisfaction in the United States: the case of public sector union workers," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(2), pages 103-120, March.
    4. Vedrana Čikeš & Helga Maškarin Ribarić & Kristina Črnjar, 2018. "The Determinants and Outcomes of Absence Behavior: A Systematic Literature Review," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Magnus Sverke & Lena Låstad & Johnny Hellgren & Anne Richter & Katharina Näswall, 2019. "A Meta-Analysis of Job Insecurity and Employee Performance: Testing Temporal Aspects, Rating Source, Welfare Regime, and Union Density as Moderators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-29, July.

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