Absenteeism | Meaning and Definition

What is Absenteeism?

Absenteeism meaning is defined as an employee’s regular absence from work. Habitual non-presence goes beyond what is considered a reasonable number of days away from the workplace for valid reasons like vacations, illness, and family emergencies. Job unhappiness, continuing personal concerns, and chronic physical problems are all possible causes of excessive absence.

Regardless of the primary cause, a long-term pattern of absence can ruin a worker’s image, jeopardizing their long-term employment; however, some types of unpaid leave are protected by the law and cannot be used as a basis for dismissal of the employee.

Absenteeism can be particularly problematic if an employee is absent during peak seasons or when big project deadlines are approaching.

While medical leave, jury duty, and religious holidays are all legally protected reasons for an employee to avoid work, some employees take advantage of these provisions, putting their company at a disadvantage.

Cost Of Absenteeism

Absenteeism has a direct cost for decreased business productivity, which affects sales and profits. Employees who are unable to work cannot contribute to a company’s growth and success.

If other employees cannot perform the job of these missing employees, the company’s workforce will be left with a gap. Even if their task is taken up by other employees, they will have more work to do, which might be exhausting for the employees. The effects of absenteeism have negative sides.