I. Meaning
Absenteeism is the term generally used to refer to unscheduled employee
absences from the workplace. Many
causes of absenteeism are legitimate, for example personal illness or family
issues, but absenteeism also 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.
The Labour Department in India defined the
absenteeism rate as the total man-shifts lost because of absences as a
percentage of the total number of man-shifts scheduled. So for calculation of
the rate of the absenteeism we require the number of persons scheduled to work
and the number actually present.
II .Causes of the absenteeism
The rate of the absenteeism in Indian industries is
very high and cannot be dismissed. A Statistical study of absenteeism of Indian
Labour observed that, the basic cause of absenteeism in India is that
industrial worker is still part-time peasant. Thus the workers go to find jobs
at cities after the harvesting their crops. It means that when the
transplanting season. These workers consider to the modern industrialism is
insecure. Thus, cause to high rate of the absenteeism in the industrial sector.
According to the Labour Investigation Committee
(1946), there were many reasons that caused the absenteeism of the industrial
workers. The Commission pointed out many
factors which caused the absenteeism in Indian industries. These factors are:
1. Sickness and low vitality: The committee pointed
out that sickness is most important responsible for absenteeism in almost of
the in Industrial sector. Epidemics like cholera, small-pox and malaria always
break out in severe from in most industrial areas. The low vitality of the
Indian workers makes them easy prey to such epidemics and bad housing and
unsanitary conditions of living aggravate the trouble. However, the Commission
has been noticed that the rate of absenteeism among the female workers is
higher than their male counterparts.
2. Means of Transport: The Commission also stated
that the transport facilities also play very important to contribute the
absenteeism of the worker in the industries.
It has been pointed out that, the rate of absenteeism is higher in those
factories where transport facilities are not easily available as compared to
those where such facilities are easily available or provided by the factory
itself.
3. Hours of work: The long hours of work also
affect the workers’ efficiency and consequently their sickness rate and
absenteeism rate are increased.
4. Nightshift: It has also been pointed out that
there is a greater percentage of absenteeism during the nightshifts than in the
dayshifts, owing to the greater discomforts of work during the night-time.
5. Rural exodus: The committee also pointed out
that probably the most predominant cause of absenteeism is the frequent urge of
rural exodus. It has been noticed that the workers go back to their villages at
the time of harvesting and sowing the crops. It increases the rate of
absenteeism in factories.
6. Accident: Industrial accident depends upon the
nature of work to be performed by the worker and his ability for doing that
work. In case of hazardous nature of job, the accidents occur more frequently
which lead to higher rate of absenteeism.
7. Social and religious Function: it has been
noticed that workers become absent form their duty on occasions of social and
religious functions. Since the workers like to join their families on such
occasions, they go back to their villages for like to join short periods.
8. Drinking and amusement: the Labour Investigation
committee pointed out that drinking and amusements are also responsible for
absenteeism. Since drinking and amusements in the late hours of night make it
difficult for the workers to reach in time on their duties. They like to become
absent rather than late since they know that badli workers will be substituted
for them, if they are late.
9.After Pay-Day: the Labour Investigation committee
also noted the level of absenteeism is comparatively high immediately after the
pay-day because they get their wages, they
feel like having a good time or
return to their villages to make purchases for the family and to meet
them, so the absenteeism is high after they got paid.
10. Nature of work: the absenteeism rate is also
affected by the nature of work. According to Prof. William pointed out that
absenteeism prevails because workers are not accustomed to the factory life and
factory discipline. In other words, absenteeism prevails because the nature of
work in factories is different from that for which the worker is accustomed. So
when they come to work in the factory, they feel strange, this new situation
make them uncomfortable, so lead to high rate of absenteeism of the industrial
workers.
11. Other causes : The above factor which are
caused the absenteeism in the Industrial which are pointed out briefly by the
Labour Commission. However, there can
be tow other factors which caused the absenteeism in industrial sector.
These factors are: a) personal Factors and b) workplace factors.
A. Personal
factor: The personal factor also divided into other sub-factors, these are:
i. Personal Attitude: there are different attitude of employees.
The Employees with strong workplace ethics will respect their work and appreciate
the contribution they make to their companies. Such employees will not engage
themselves in taking unscheduled off. On the other hand, employees with very
low or no work ethics are indiscipline and have lot of integrity and
behavioural issues. Since, they feel no obligation towards the company,
absenteeism comes easily to them.
ii. Age: The younger employees are often restless.
They want to spend time with their friends and have fun, rather than being tied
down with work responsibility. This lack of ownership often leads them to take
unauthorized time off. With age, people gain experience and maturity, which
makes them focused and responsible. Their approach is rather professional and
they prefer to stick to their chairs to get the work done. If ever they are
found absent, then it could be due to sickness.
iii .Seniority: Employees, who have been with the
company for a long time are well-adjusted with the working culture and the job,
therefore, they find no reason to be absent without permission. On the other
hand, new hires are more prone to taking ad hoc breaks to unwind themselves.
iv. Gender: Women generally do a balancing act by
shuffling their time between home and work. Family, being their foremost
priority, they don't think twice before taking a step towards absenteeism.
B. Workplace Factors
i. Stress: The pressure at work sometimes takes a
toll on the employees. This results in increased levels of stress. The
employees then resort to excuses that can help them stay away from work.
ii. Work Routine: Doing the same job over a period
of time can get monotonous. The employees find the job functions boring. They
rather choose time off to do something interesting than come to work.
iii. Job Satisfaction: If employees do not find
their job challenging, dissatisfaction creeps in. That leads to more
absenteeism in the workplace.
III. Effect of absenteeism:
The effects of the absenteeism of the workers in
the factories adversely effect to the employers, the cost of production of the
factory is increased because of the absent of the workers, by employed extra
temporary staffs in order to replace the absentee.
The effects of absenteeism in the workplace are
directly proportionate to decreased productivity. The company, eventually, is
trying to cover up the direct and indirect cost involved to hire temporary
staff, and pay employees for overtime. So the cost of the production of the
company is increased as the result they increase the price of the commodity, so
the consumers have to pay high price for the
commodities.. However, the workers themselves also effect of the
absenteeism because their income is reduced according to the principle of “no
work no pay”, as the result their standard of live decreased. Thus, absenteeism
adversely affects the employers and the workers, and consumers and ultimately , it can be adverse affect to
the growth of the economy in the
country. so all these give rises to many industrial labour and social problems.
IV. Method to remedy the absenteeism
As regard to the measure to be adopted to remove
the absenteeism, the Bombay Textile Labour Enquiry committee stated that “the
proper conditions of work in the factory, adequate wages, protection from
accident and sickness, and facilities for obtaining leave for rest and
recuperation constitute the most effective means of reducing absenteeism.
The Labour investigation committee, agreed with the
above view, stated that “the excessive fatigue and sweated conditions of work
are bound to create a defence mechanism’ in the worker and if adding results
are to be obtained, the best policy would be to improve conditions of work and
life for the workers and make them feel contented and happy. Therefore, the
Committee suggested that the most effective way of dealing with absenteeism is
to provide holiday with pay or even
without pay and permit workers to attend their private affairs occasionally and
thus regularise absenteeism instead of merely taking disciplinary actions for
it . Provision of suitable housing facilities in industrial towns should also
go a long way in improving attendance.
Besides, the above provisions a sense of
responsibility towards industry should be created among the workers through
proper education and training. The workers’ participation in the management of
industry, introduction of an incentive wage scheme and linking wages and bonus
with production may also prove very helpful in checking the rate of
absenteeism.
On the basis of the above analysis, it can safely
be concluded that the rate of absenteeism can be reduced by making provisions
for:
a) Improving the working
condition in the factory
b) Providing adequate
wages,
c) Protection from accident
and sickness
d) Providing facilities for
obtaining leave for rest
ef) Creating a sense of responsibility
in workers towards industry
g) Workers participation in Employee Engagement activities,
h) Introducing incentive
wage scheme and linking wages and bonus with production
i) And
adequate transport facilities
j) Besides, an
affectionate and mild behavior of the employer will be helpful in reducing the
rate of absenteeism.
The employers should consider the above provisions
for the workers , if the above provision are provided to employees, the absenteeism of the workers
will be decreased and in return the standard of living of the workers is increased and in return the
productivity efficiency of the workers also increase , in contras the cost of
the production is decreased . so the employers can earn maximum profits and the
industrial peace and industrial harmony take place in the industry.