Psychological causes of absenteeism at work
Did you know that systematically reviewing private e-mail during working hours is a type of work absenteeism? In general, this practice can be defined as the deliberate absence of the workstation during the legal duration of the latter. As an abandonment of duties, rights and duties of a specific position, too. But what is behind this abandonment? Why does a person become irresponsible professionally? Did you know that habitually looking at your private mail during work hours is a type of work absenteeism?
This is one of the most difficult problems to solve because of its complexity. Moreover, it is an endemic phenomenon making no distinction of sex, religion or age. It is influenced by many factors, among which are psychosocial ones. They can however vary a lot depending on the case. We will dive below in its causes of this absenteeism at work
Types of absenteeism at work
Absenteeism at work is generally classified into the following types:
Presence: Occurs when the worker performs tasks that are not specific to their work day. In other words, when he buys online, reads his private email, talks on the phone with his friends or family, etc. This represents significant losses for the company as it tends to spread over time. The worker does not pay anything. It does not make any effort and it affects the productivity of the company. It could be returned or suspended after several warnings.
Justified: the employee does not come to his post after informing his organization of the reason for the absence. For example, when it requires medical assistance, vacation days, maternity / paternity leave, work accidents ...
Unjustified and uninformed: this is the antithesis of the previous one. The worker does not prevent or justify his absence from the company. In other words, it is not authorized by the latter. He is not allowed to leave his job. Like face-to-face absenteeism, it can lead to the worker's justified dismissal.
Psychological causes of absenteeism at work
It is essential to know all these causes in order to understand why it is considered a poor endemic. To understand moreover its consequences, both for the person and for his environment. We have already mentioned that psychosocial factors are the ones that best explain absenteeism at work. But there is within them a great individual variability, according to each person.
Professional stress
Some companies continue to adopt production policies based on downsizing. In other words, they lay off or do not hire new workers, wanting to maintain the same level of production. Workers are therefore invited to increase their responsibilities and tasks, with the same hours and the same remuneration.
The result ? Overloading of duties on the workstation, lack of motivation and professional stress. The latter is the main psychological cause of absenteeism at work.
Stress occurs when there is an imbalance between what the environment requires and the resources the person needs to cope. At the professional level, the International Labor Organization (ILO) defines it as a disease that "poses a danger to the economies of the industrialized countries".
Consequences of job stress
Some of the consequences of this professional stress can be seen in the short, medium or long term. They depend on each person and their strategies to cope with it. Among the psychological effects we find difficulty concentrating, treating, anxiety or depression, cognitive deterioration, insomnia or even mental disorders.
The physical consequences can be manifested by cardiovascular (hypertension, arrhythmia) or dermatological (dermatitis, alopecia, urticaria) alterations. Sexual also (erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation) or musculoskeletal (cramps, tics, muscle tension).
We see that this biopsychosocial disorder is not benign, neither for organizations nor for workers. Companies must help their employees get rid of this stress. An additional problem is that of simulation. In other words, simulate a disease or disorder to justify absenteeism. This is indeed a very difficult phenomenon to demonstrate and control.
As a result, work absenteeism is a problem directly related to company policy, the quality of the work environment and the dissatisfaction of the workers. It therefore requires effective and intelligent solutions. In other words, they will be better if they are specific to each case.
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