The anatomy of absenteeism.
Based on comprehensive administrative register data from Norway, we examine the determinants of sickness absence behavior; in terms of employee characteristics, workplace characteristics, panel doctor characteristics, and economic conditions. The analysis is based on a novel concept of a worker's steady state sickness absence propensity, computed from a multivariate hazard rate model designed to predict the incidence and duration of sickness absence for all workers. Key conclusions are that (i) most of the cross-sectional variation in absenteeism is caused by genuine employee heterogeneity; (ii) the identity of a person's panel doctor has a significant impact on absence propensity; (iii) sickness absence insurance is frequently certified for reasons other than sickness; and (iv) the recovery rate rises enormously just prior to the exhaustion of sickness insurance benefits.
Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research, 0349 Oslo, Norway.
Simen
S
Markussen
Knut
K
Røed
Ole J
OJ
Røgeberg
Simen
S
Gaure
D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D036262:Empirical Research; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors