Predicting temporal trends in total absenteeism rates for civil service employees of a federal public health agency.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluates the predictability in temporal absences trends due to all causes (total absenteeism) among employees at a federal agency. The objective is to determine how leave trends vary within the year, and determine whether trends are predictable.


METHODS
Ten years of absenteeism data from an attendance system were analyzed for rates of total absence.


RESULTS
Trends over a 10-year period followed predictable and regular patterns during a given year that correspond to major holiday periods. Temporal trends in leave among small, medium, and large facilities compared favorably with the agency as a whole.


CONCLUSIONS
Temporal trends in total absenteeism rates for an organization can be determined using its attendance system. The ability to predict employee absenteeism rates can be extremely helpful for management in optimizing business performance and ensuring that an organization meets its mission.
From the Environment Safety and Health Compliance Office (Drs Spears, McNeil, Warnock, and Meechan); Office of Safety, Security, and Asset Management (Mr Trapp), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga; Booz Allen Hamilton (Mr Oyinloye, Mr Whitehurst, and Mr Decker), McLean, Va; Program Grants Office (Mr Chapman); and Management Systems Information Office (Mr Campbell), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga.
D Ross
DR
Spears
Carrie
C
McNeil
Eli
E
Warnock
Jonathan
J
Trapp
Oluremi
O
Oyinloye
Vanessa
V
Whitehurst
K C
KC
Decker
Sandy
S
Chapman
Morris
M
Campbell
Paul
P
Meechan
D000041:Absenteeism; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D037041:United States Government Agencies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*