Absenteism

Absenteism, sometimes spelled absenteeism in standard English, refers to the habitual or systematic absence of an employee from work. It encompasses both unplanned and planned absences and is a common metric in human resource management. Definitions typically measure absence as a proportion of scheduled work time or as the number of days absent per employee over a given period.

Causes include health issues, caregiving demands, burnout, low job satisfaction, a poor work environment, and logistical barriers such as commute or scheduling conflicts. Some absences are voluntary, others are involuntary due to illness or emergencies. Chronic absenteeism describes a pattern of frequent or extended unplanned absences that can seriously affect operations.

Measurement and costs: absence can be expressed as an absentee rate, for example total absent hours or days divided by total scheduled hours or days. Impacts include reduced productivity, disrupted workflows, increased overtime costs, lower team morale, and, in some industries, safety risks.

Management and mitigation: organizations often implement clear attendance policies, monitor patterns with data analytics, and deploy return-to-work programs. Flexible scheduling, remote work options where feasible, and efforts to promote employee health and well-being can reduce absences. Fair treatment, consistent enforcement, and adherence to applicable labor and leave laws are also important components of managing absenteism.

See also: absenteeism, presenteeism, workforce management.