title: Occupational factors and sick leave in Australian employees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate occupational factors associated with sick leave over a 4-year period in Australian employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data (self-report) from 2861 Australian full-time employees (69.4% male) were used. Occupational factors and relevant covariates were assessed at baseline with sick leave assessed yearly over a 4-year period. The data were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Job strain and longer commuting time were associated with long sick leave, whereas long work hours were inversely associated with long sick leave.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results provide further evidence that certain aspects of work are associated with sick leave, whereas other work aspects such as long work hours are inversely associated with sick leave. Organizations need to understand and address these factors to improve the well-being of employees and increase workplace productivity.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. cmagee@uow.edu.au
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stefanic
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caputi
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iverson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult