Predictors of sickness absence and presenteeism: does the pattern differ by a respondent's health?
OBJECTIVE
To examine the predictors of sickness presenteeism in comparison with sickness absenteeism. The article focuses on the effects of working time match and efficiency demands and differentiates the estimates by a respondent's self-assessed health.


METHODS
We use survey data covering 884 Finnish trade union members in 2009. We estimate logistic regression models. All models include control variables such as the sector of the economy and the type of contract.


RESULTS
Working time match between desired and actual weekly working hours reduces both sickness absence and presenteeism for those workers who have poor health. We also find that efficiency demands increase presenteeism for those workers who have good health.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of working time match and efficiency demands on the prevalence of sickness absence and presenteeism are strongly conditional on a worker's self-assessed health level.
Böckerman
Petri
P
Labour Institute for Economic Research, FI-00530 Helsinki, Finland. petri.bockerman@labour.fi
Laukkanen
Erkki
E
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018582:Sick Leave; D016526:Workload