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ILR Impact Brief - Deconstructing Absenteeism: Satisfaction, Commitment, and Unemployment

Author
Hausknecht, John; Hiller, Nathan J.; Vance, Robert J.
Abstract
[Excerpt] Group attitudes about satisfaction and commitment are negatively associated with absenteeism and interact in predicting absenteeism at the unit level. The effects are particularly strong in areas where jobs are plentiful but fade away where jobs are scarce. In other words, higher levels of absenteeism in a work group are associated with lower levels of job satisfaction and organizational commitment in labor markets with low unemployment, and vice versa. Organizational commitment is the crucial factor: absenteeism is higher in work units with low levels of commitment regardless of the level of satisfaction. Group norms about absenteeism and other contextual factors, such as work processes, contribute to the variance among work units. Satisfaction and commitment are not related to changes in absenteeism over time.
Journal/Series
Impact Brief
Description
The ILR Impact Brief series highlights the research and project based work conducted by ILR faculty that is relevant to workplace issues and public policy. The Briefs are prepared by Maralyn Edid, Senior Extension Associate, ILR School.
Date Issued
2008-07-23Subject
absenteeism; labor markets; job satisfaction; organizational commitment
Related to
For a more in-depth analysis, please see: Hausknecht, J. P., Hiller, N. J., & Vance, R. J. (in press). Work unit absenteeism: Effects of satisfaction, commitment, labor market conditions, and time. Academy of Management Journal.
Rights
Required Publisher Statement: Copyright by Cornell University.
Type
newsletter