Absenteeism
Habitual or frequent absence of an employee from work without a valid reason.
Definition
Absenteeism refers to a pattern of frequent or habitual unplanned absence from work by an employee, excluding approved leave. It is measured using metrics such as the Bradford Factor, which calculates absence scores based on the frequency as well as duration of absences. High absenteeism has significant costs for organizations in terms of lost productivity, temporary cover, and management time. Root causes can include health issues, disengagement, poor management, or workplace conflict.
Example
“The logistics company used the Bradford Factor to identify that one team had an absenteeism rate three times the company average, triggering a wellbeing assessment and management coaching program for the department.”
Synonyms
- truancy
- unplanned absence
- unauthorized absence
- chronic absenteeism
Antonyms / Opposites
- attendance
- presenteeism