Alternatives to Employee Absenteeism for Improving Organizational Productivity

Absenteeism, as a result of employee health issues, affects productivity levels within an organization. Drawing from the organization culture theory, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of 10 human resources managers involved with employee personnel; an additional purpose was to explore the experiences of 10 employees who had experienced long-term absenteeism due to health issues. All participants resided in the southeastern United States. Using semistructured interviews for data collection, participants shared their experiences regarding absenteeism. Data were coded and then analyzed based on the modified van Kaam method, which revealed 5 themes: (a) a lack of organization policies and procedures developed for health-related absenteeism, (b) a reluctance of committed employees to align with goals that improve organizational productivity and profits, (c) the desire of organizations to develop opportunities for alternative workplace solutions to decrease health related absenteeism, (d) an eagerness by employers to increase job satisfaction of healthy employees who work absent employees' hours, and (e) a willingness to establish preventable barriers to health related absenteeism to improve organizational productivity and profits. The research findings may contribute to social change by providing organizational leaders with an understanding of employee perspectives regarding health-related absenteeism. These findings might also inform organizational leaders on ways to remain productive when facing absenteeism.