Reducing sickness absenteeism at the workplace—what to do and how?

摘要

Sickness absenteeism is a significant problem both for employees and for employers. Sometimes the discussion is more directed towards the economic consequences than the individual suffering caused by disabling diseases. Another relevant issue is the extra burden to supervisors and colleagues when lacking resources are being replaced. All of these factors have prompted many workplaces to create their own procedures to diminish lost worktime due to sick leaves. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions has published a model for sickness absenteeism. It presents two crucial steps in the process, the "absenteeism barrier" between work and taking sick leave, and the "reintegration barrier" between sick leave and return to work.