ABSENTEEISM AMONG WORKERS

ABSENTEEISM

Introduction

Absenteeism is said to be there when an employee fails to come to work when he is scheduled to work.  Absenteeism means absence of workers from the regular work without prior permission, notice or sanction.  It is unauthorized leave and is different from regular holiday.  In brief, absenteeism means absence which is willful but avoidable.

Definition

            Labor Bureau Simla, defined the term ‘absenteeism’ as “the failure of a worker to report for work when he is scheduled to work”

            Despite the significance of their presence, employees sometimes fail to report at the work place during the scheduled time, which is known as absenteeism

Research studies

Research studies have further reveled that:

1. The days before and after a holiday are liable to higher rate of absenteeism.
2. Women are absent more often than men.
3. Heavy rain, cyclone of any other natural calamity can increase rate of absenteeism, especially among who live at distant places.
4. Employees under the age of 25 years and above the age of 55 years are absent more often than those in age group of 26 to 55 years.
5. Operative employees are absent more frequently than the supervisors and managers.

Calculation of Absenteeism Rate & Frequency Rate

Absenteeism rate:

Absenteeism rate can he calculate with the formula:

      Absenteeism rate= Number of Man days lost *100

                                    Number of man days scheduled to work

                        Absenteeism rate can be calculated for different employees and for different time periods like month and year.

Frequency Rate:

It reflects the incidence of absence and is usually expressed as the number of separate absence in a given period, irrespective of length of absences.  The frequency rate represents the average number of absence per worker in a given period.

            Frequency Rate = Total no. of times in which the leave was availed * 100

                                                Total no of man days scheduled to work

Types of Absenteeism

Absenteeism are classified in to four types

(1)   Authorized Absenteeism:

If an employee absent himself from work by taking permission form his superior and applying for leave

(2)    Unauthorized Absenteeism:

If an employee absent himself from work without informing or taking permission and without applying for leave.

(3)   Willful Absenteeism:

If an employee absents himself from duty willfully

(4)   Absenteeism caused by circumstances beyond One’s Control:

If an employee absent himself from duty owing to the circumstances beyond his control like accidents or sickness.

Causes for Absenteeism

In order to identify the causes and extent of absenteeism, proper records should be kept in every department for various causes of absenteeism such as age, sex, days of the week and classes of jobs by each divisions. Generally following reasons are attributable for absenteeism at work:

• Nature of the wok
• Poor working conditions
• Absence of regular leave arrangements
• Accidents
• Poor control
• Irregular transport facilities
• Lack of interest
• Indebt ness
• Alcoholism and Gambling habits
• Low level of wages
• Miscellaneous causes

The Responsibilities of the Supervisor regarding absenteeism

In addition to ensuring that work is appropriately covered during the employee’s absence, there are a number of other critical actions that supervisors need to take to manage absenteeism. They should:

• ensure that all employees are fully aware of the organization’s policies and procedures for dealing with absence,
• be the first point of contact when an employee phones in sick,
• maintain appropriately detailed, accurate, and up-to-date absence records for their staff, (e.g., date, nature of illness/reason for absence, expected return to work date, doctor’s certification if necessary),
• identify any patterns or trends of absence which cause concern,
• conduct return-to-work interviews, and
• Implement disciplinary procedures where necessary.

Effects of Absenteeism

      Absenteeism cause harmful to both the employees and the workers for the following reasons

1.      Normal work – flow in the factory is disturbed

2.      Overall production in the factory goes down.

3.      Difficulty is faced in executing the orders in time.

4.      Casual workers may have to be employed to meet production schedules.  Such workers are not trained properly.

5.      Overtime allowance bill increases considerably because of higher absenteeism.

6.      when a number of workers absent themselves, there is extra pressure of work on their colleagues who are present.

7.      Workers lose wages for the unauthorized absence from work.

8.      Habitual absentees may be removed from services causing them great hardship.

Measures to Control Absenteeism

Absenteeism cannot be eliminated altogether. So measures should be taken to minimize the rate of absenteeism. Measures are as follows

1.Proper Hiring:

It is necessary that people with rights skills and experience are selected.  Every employee should as far as possible be assigned work according to capabilities, aptitude and interest.

2. Good working condition;

                        Proper sanitation, drinking water, canteen, first aid, rest pauses and mechanization can help to reduce absenteeism by making work environment pleasant.

3. Housing and Transport facilities:

                        Provision of housing accommodation, preferably neat the factory and bus facility will ensure regular attendance of workers.

4. Safety programmes:

                        Adequate safety measures help to minimize industrial accidents and reduce fear of injury among employees.  As a result attendance becomes improved.

5. Incentives:

Special bonus, cash prizes and preference in promotion to regular employees encourage workers to be regular in their attendance.

6. Effective supervision:

Supervisors can considerably reduce absenteeism by earning the confidence and commitment of workers.

7. Disciplinary Action:

Suitable action should be taken against chronic absentees.  Punitive action may be in the form of publishing their names in company house magazines, fines, withholding pay increatment, denial of promotion, suspension, dismissal, etc.

8. Regular leave provision:

A provision should be made wherein every worker can avail a few days of leave during a year.  Holidays with pay will enable a worker to attend to his private affairs.

9. Employee Counseling:

                  Guidance and counseling help employees to eliminate bad habits like drinking and gambling.  Habitual absentees can be persuaded to become regulat by impressing upon them the loss arising to them due to absenteeism.  Education and training can be used to develop a sense of responsibility.

10.Proper Records:

                  Detailed and update records of absenteeism should be maintained.  Absenteeism above the predetermined level should be carefully analyzed age wise, sex wise, month wise and other bases.