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Causes of Absenteeism PDF
Causes of Absenteeism PDF
I. INTRODUCTION
In a basketball team or even in any sports team, every member has an important
role in the game. One player could be specialized in earning score, other could be in
defense. All players have a great part in the team’s overall performance and success.
So, when a player failed to attend one game due to injuries, illness or other some
reasons, it creates a large gap in the team, which affect its overall performance. It can
also affect the outcome of the game and even affects the overall result of the season.
This is definitely the same with the absenteeism within the workplace. Every employee
has an important role to do in the organization as the whole team is working with one
common goal. Just like any sports team, if one player or two is absent, it affects the
overall strength and the efficiency of the team decreases.
There are lot of definition of absenteeism. Maybe because there are also lot of
reasons why someone is more likely to be absent in a workplace. Senel and Senel,
2012 defined absenteeism as the "lack of presence of an employee for planned work".
Based on the definition given, absenteeism is any unexcused or unauthorized absence
by the worker from the workplace. This includes, tardiness or showing up late in the
workplace, committing under time or leaving before the end of the shift, taking
extended break or lunch, leaving the workplace for a day for no valid reason and simply
not showing up at all. If you relate this in a sport’s team, just imagine how can this
terribly affects the performance of the whole team.
Absenteeism has been recognized as one of the major problem in all industries,
private and even in the government organizations. Swarnalatha and Sureshkrishna,
2013 suggested that employees who are habitually absent from their workplace are a
threat to the organization and turn it into a "deviant workplace". Excessive absences
can equate to decreased productivity and can have a major effect in organization’s
finances and morale. This paper seeks to determine the factors why absenteeism is
rampant among public and private organizations and to address its effect to the overall
performance and result of an organization.
II. CAUSES OF ABSENTEEISM
A. Personal Factor
Study shows that age and occupational status are the primary variables that
affects absenteeism rate. Most younger employees are inclined to take
unauthorized leave compare to those in middle age workers. Younger generation
have lot of extra-activities as their attention is divided in other things. Believing
that it is their right to report at work or not if they want to according to their
designations; they lack commitment to their work since their priority is to enjoy life
and do the best in it, which they can’t do if they put all their time inside the
workplace. This may cause to abusing sick leave. However, as employees approach
middle age, the absenteeism rate decreases. It was also mentioned that the second
rise of absenteeism rate is observe to the employees in the age 50 years onwards
due to health issues. Workers in this age are more prone to any kind of diseases
resulting to work absences.
The following factors have been found to contribute to absenteeism under
personal factor:
It was also observed that employees with regular status has a lower
absenteeism rate compare to contractual and Job Order Personnel in government
sectors.
B. Attitudinal characteristic
When you look for a job, there are factors that people usually considers, like
good compensation, working conditions, training opportunity and of course,
bonuses, rewards and awards. If these expectations are not met, this could result
to loss of interest for the employee and may resort to abusing sick leave as a
means of seeking a temporary withdrawal from the work situation. Here are some
reasons absenteeism is committed under attitudinal characteristic:
In addition, employers should have regular trainings and seminars for its
employees. Trainings and seminars is an opportunity to grow professionally which
most employees desired to as they start their career. It shows the capability of the
organization to create a healthy competitive environment for the employees. If they
feel appreciated and motivated by the organization, they will be more satisfied and
interested to do be more productive towards their job.
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