The occupational health nurse's role in absentee control. How to collect and provide meaningful data.

Abstract

W hat can the nurse do to help control absenteeism? How can she assist management to cope with this ever increasing problem? Today's management is becoming more and more concerned with absenteeism. With greater emphasis on accident prevention and safety programs, lost time due to work injuries continues to decline. However, on the other side of the coin, sickness absenteeism is on the increase. Along with this is the increased cost of fringe benefits: sick pay, hospital and doctor payments. More and more the medical departments and/or the nurse are being called upon by management to assist with this serious problem of high cost and great manpower loss. Let us look at some of the known facts about absenteeism, as it is a national problem. It may be of interest to note that the United States enjoys a low absence rate in comparison with Europe, where the right not to work when feeling ill is becoming a social movement. Also, there will always be "justifiable" absenteeism. Many persons are working who are ill and should be home, or should remain home for longer periods. Seasonal conditions affect the incidence among workers. Studies have