Absenteeism and Its Impact
Absenteeism is the term generally used to refer to unscheduled employee absences from the workplace. Many causes of absenteeism are legitimate, such as personal illness or family issues, but absenteeism can often be traced to other factors such as a poor work environment or workers who are not committed to their jobs. If such absences become excessive, they can have a seriously adverse impact on a business's operations and, ultimately, its profitability.
Peculiar Features of Absenteeism
1) The rate of absenteeism is lowest on payday; it increases considerably on the days following the payment of wages and bonuses. The level of absenteeism is comparatively high immediately after payday when workers either feel like having a good time or, in some cases, return home to their villages. Absenteeism after a holiday has also been found to be higher than on normal days.
2) Absenteeism is generally high among workers below 25 years of age and those above 40. The younger employees are not regular and punctual, presumably because of the employment of a large number of newcomers among the younger age groups, while the older people are not able to withstand the strenuous nature of the work.
3) The percentage of absenteeism is higher in the night shift than in the day shift. This is because workers in the night shift experience greater discomfort and uneasiness during their work than they do during the daytime.
4) Absenteeism in India is seasonal in character. It is the highest during March-April-May when land has to be prepared for monsoon sowing, and also in the harvest season (Sept-Oct) when the rate goes as high as 40%.
Causes of Absenteeism
The rate of absenteeism in Indian industries is very high due to the following factors:
1. Sickness and Low Vitality: Sickness is the most important factor responsible for absenteeism in almost all industrial sectors. Epidemics like cholera, smallpox, and malaria often break out severely in most industrial areas. The low vitality of Indian workers makes them easy prey to such epidemics, and bad housing and unsanitary living conditions aggravate the issue.
2. Means of Transport: The rate of absenteeism is higher in factories where transport facilities are not easily available compared to those where such facilities are easily available or provided by the factory itself.
3. Hours of Work: Long hours of work also affect workers' efficiency, consequently increasing their sickness rate and absenteeism rate.
4. Night Shift: There is a greater percentage of absenteeism during night shifts than in day shifts, owing to the greater discomforts of work during nighttime.
5. Rural Exodus: Workers often go back to their villages at the time of harvesting and sowing crops, increasing the rate of absenteeism in factories.
6. Accidents: Industrial accidents occur more frequently in hazardous job environments, leading to a higher rate of absenteeism.
7. Social and Religious Functions: Workers become absent from their duties on occasions of social and religious functions, as they prefer to join their families on such occasions for short periods.
8. Drinking and Amusement: Drinking and amusements in late-night hours make it difficult for workers to reach their duties on time, leading to absenteeism.
9. After Pay-Day: The level of absenteeism is comparatively high immediately after payday as workers may feel like having a good time or return to their villages to make purchases for the family.
10. Nature of Work: The absenteeism rate is also affected by the nature of work.
With Thanks and Best Regards,
Nanjegowda
Addl Secretary-NIPM Karnataka Chapter
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Location: Bangalore, India
From India, Bangalore
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106Absenteeism is the term generally used to refer to unscheduled employee absences from the workplace. Many causes of absenteeism are legitimate, such as personal illness or family issues, but absenteeism can often be traced to other factors such as a poor work environment or workers who are not committed to their jobs. If such absences become excessive, they can have a seriously adverse impact on a business's operations and, ultimately, its profitability.
Peculiar Features of Absenteeism
1) The rate of absenteeism is lowest on payday; it increases considerably on the days following the payment of wages and bonuses. The level of absenteeism is comparatively high immediately after payday when workers either feel like having a good time or, in some cases, return home to their villages. Absenteeism after a holiday has also been found to be higher than on normal days.
2) Absenteeism is generally high among workers below 25 years of age and those above 40. The younger employees are not regular and punctual, presumably because of the employment of a large number of newcomers among the younger age groups, while the older people are not able to withstand the strenuous nature of the work.
3) The percentage of absenteeism is higher in the night shift than in the day shift. This is because workers in the night shift experience greater discomfort and uneasiness during their work than they do during the daytime.
4) Absenteeism in India is seasonal in character. It is the highest during March-April-May when land has to be prepared for monsoon sowing, and also in the harvest season (Sept-Oct) when the rate goes as high as 40%.
Causes of Absenteeism
The rate of absenteeism in Indian industries is very high due to the following factors:
1. Sickness and Low Vitality: Sickness is the most important factor responsible for absenteeism in almost all industrial sectors. Epidemics like cholera, smallpox, and malaria often break out severely in most industrial areas. The low vitality of Indian workers makes them easy prey to such epidemics, and bad housing and unsanitary living conditions aggravate the issue.
2. Means of Transport: The rate of absenteeism is higher in factories where transport facilities are not easily available compared to those where such facilities are easily available or provided by the factory itself.
3. Hours of Work: Long hours of work also affect workers' efficiency, consequently increasing their sickness rate and absenteeism rate.
4. Night Shift: There is a greater percentage of absenteeism during night shifts than in day shifts, owing to the greater discomforts of work during nighttime.
5. Rural Exodus: Workers often go back to their villages at the time of harvesting and sowing crops, increasing the rate of absenteeism in factories.
6. Accidents: Industrial accidents occur more frequently in hazardous job environments, leading to a higher rate of absenteeism.
7. Social and Religious Functions: Workers become absent from their duties on occasions of social and religious functions, as they prefer to join their families on such occasions for short periods.
8. Drinking and Amusement: Drinking and amusements in late-night hours make it difficult for workers to reach their duties on time, leading to absenteeism.
9. After Pay-Day: The level of absenteeism is comparatively high immediately after payday as workers may feel like having a good time or return to their villages to make purchases for the family.
10. Nature of Work: The absenteeism rate is also affected by the nature of work.
With Thanks and Best Regards,
Nanjegowda
Addl Secretary-NIPM Karnataka Chapter
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]
Location: Bangalore, India
From India, Bangalore
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