PRESENTEEISM IN FINLAND: DETERMINANTS BY GENDER AND THE SECTOR OF ECONOMY

PRESENTEEISM IN FINLAND: DETERMINANTS BY GENDER AND THE SECTOR OF ECONOMY

We study the prevalence of sickness presenteeism, using survey data covering 725 Finnish union members in 2008. Controlling for worker characteristics, we find that sickness presenteeism is sensitive to working-time arrangements. Permanent full-time work, mismatch between desired and actual working hours, shift or period work and overlong working weeks generally increase the prevalence of sickness presenteeism. The estimates by gender suggest that participation in permanent full-time work has an effect on presenteeism only for women. Furthermore, the adoption of three days‟ paid sickness absence without a sickness certificate and the easing of efficiency demands decrease sickness presenteeism especially in private services

___

  • AHOLA, K., KIVIMÄKI, M., HONKONEN, T., VIRTANEN, M., KOSKINEN, S., VAHTERA, J., and LÖNNQVIST, J. (2008): Occupational burnout and medically certified sickness absence: A population-based study of Finnish employees. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 64, 185-193.
  • ARONSSON, G., GUSTAFSSON, K., and DALLNER, M. (2000): Sick but yet at work. An empirical study of sickness presenteeism. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 54, 502-509.
  • ARONSSON, G. and GUSTAFSSON, K. (2005): Sickness presenteeism: prevalence, attendance-pressure factors, and an outline of a model for research. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 47, 958-966.
  • BÖCKERMAN, P. and ILMAKUNNAS, P. (2008): Interaction of working conditions, job satisfaction, and sickness absences: Evidence from a representative sample of employees. Social Science and Medicine, 67, 520
  • BÖCKERMAN, P. and LAUKKANEN, E. (2009): What makes you work while you are sick? Evidence from a survey of workers. The European Journal of Public Health, Forthcoming.
  • BÖCKERMAN, P. and UUSITALO, R. (2006): Erosion of the Ghent system and union membership decline: Lessons from Finland. British Journal of Industrial Relations, 44, 283-303.
  • DEW K., KEEFE V., and SMALL K. (2005): „Choosing‟ to work when sick: workplace presenteeism. Social Science and Medicine, 60, 2273-2282.
  • GOETZEL, R. Z., LONG, S. R., OZMINKOWSKI, R. J., WANG, S., and LYNCH, W. (2004): Health, absence, disability, and presenteeism cost estimates of certain physical and mental health conditions affecting U.S. employers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 46, 398-412.
  • HANSE, C. D. and ANDERSEN, J. H. (2008): Going ill to work – What personal circumstances, attitudes and work-related factors are associated with sickness presenteeism? Social Science and Medicine, 67, 956-964.
  • KIVIMÄKI, M., HEAD, J., FERRIE, J., HEMINGWAY, H., SHIPLEY, M. J., VAHTERA, J., and MARMOT, M.G. (2005): Working while ill as a risk factor for serious coronary events: The Whitehall II Study. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 98-102.
  • MIDDAUGH, D. J. (2006): Presenteeism: Sick and Tired at Work. MEDSURG Nursing, 15.
  • SCHULTZ, A. B. and EDINGTON, D. W. (2007): Employee Health and Presenteeism: A Systematic Review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 17, 579.
  • SIMPSON, R. (1998): Presenteeism, power and organizational change: long hours as a career barrier and the impact on the working lives of women managers. British Journal of Management, 15, 37-52.
  • WEBSTER, J. (2007): Diversity Management in the ICT Industry: Challenges and Issues for Social Dialogue. UNI Global Union, Report prepared for Union Network International.