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How to reduce workplace absenteeism

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  • Wolter Hassink

    (Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and IZA, Germany)

Abstract

Do workplace programs help reduce worker sickness absence? Many programs are based on the principle that the employee’s decision to report an absence can be influenced if it is costly to be absent. Firms can reduce absenteeism by implementing broad programs, including performance pay, general improvements of working conditions, and strengthening workers’ loyalty to the firm. Specific programs, such as grading partial absence, seem to be effective at reducing long-term absences. However, firms will be less inclined to implement such programs if they can shift the financial burden to social security programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolter Hassink, 2018. "How to reduce workplace absenteeism," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 447-447, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izawol:journl:2018:n:447
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wolter H.J. Hassink & Pierre Koning, 2009. "Do Financial Bonuses Reduce Employee Absenteeism? Evidence from a Lottery," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 62(3), pages 327-342, April.
    2. Nicolas R. Ziebarth & Martin Karlsson, 2014. "The Effects Of Expanding The Generosity Of The Statutory Sickness Insurance System," Journal of Applied Econometrics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(2), pages 208-230, March.
    3. Markussen, Simen & Mykletun, Arnstein & Røed, Knut, 2012. "The case for presenteeism — Evidence from Norway's sickness insurance program," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(11), pages 959-972.
    4. Petri Böckerman & Alex Bryson & Pekka Ilmakunnas, 2013. "Does high involvement management lead to higher pay?," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 176(4), pages 861-885, October.
    5. Ose, Solveig Osborg, 2005. "Working conditions, compensation and absenteeism," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 161-188, January.
    6. Böckerman, Petri & Bryson, Alex & Ilmakunnas, Pekka, 2012. "Does high involvement management improve worker wellbeing?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(2), pages 660-680.
    7. Christian Pfeifer, 2014. "Base Salaries, Bonus Payments, and Work Absence among Managers in a German Company," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 61(5), pages 523-536, November.
    8. Harald Dale‐Olsen, 2012. "Sickness absence, performance pay and teams," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(3), pages 284-300, June.
    9. Treble,John & Barmby,Tim, 2011. "Worker Absenteeism and Sick Pay," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521806954, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Anton A. Gerunov, 2022. "Performance of 109 Machine Learning Algorithms across Five Forecasting Tasks: Employee Behavior Modeling, Online Communication, House Pricing, IT Support and Demand Planning," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 2, pages 15-43.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    workplace sickness absence; financial incentives; working conditions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M5 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics

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