Factors associated with absenteeism at Kakira Sugar Works (non-plantation workers)
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A dissertation submitted for the award of a postgraduate diploma in Public Health of Makerere University
In this paper, literature on subject of absenteeism in industrialized countries was reviewed briefly, and a passing commentary made on what the pattern of absenteeism in Uganda was likely to be. A short history of the company was given together with the social amenities provided by the company for the workers. The set up of Kakira Sugar Works hospital was also outlined. The population studied in total comprised of 1808 people, and all were non-plantation workers. Estimates of the characteristics of this population were determined by studying a sample of 100 people selected from the 1808 people, by stratification followed by systematic sampling. The study lasted 28 days (1st October 1977 to 28th October 1977) and during this period, there were 245 absentees giving 268 spells in all. All the absentees were interviewed to determine the factors that were associated with absenteeism. The results showed 1034 days as total number of days of absence belonging to all the spells, a severity rate of absenteeism of 0.57 days per person, average duration per spell of 3.9 days, a standard deviation of 7.14 days, a median of 44 days, and a range of 44 days (45 and 1 being the two extreme values). 2.2% of the total man-days were lost through absenteeism, and this cost the company Ug.Shs.16,323.80 for the period of four weeks. Initial day of absence showed a peak, on Mondays, and a subsidiary peak on Saturdays. This pattern was more sociological than medical. Frequency of absenteeism was found to be significantly more among workers getting 650/= or less, and less among workers getting 651/= and above. It was also found that workers living far from the factory were significantly more frequently absent than those living in the company camps. This was explained as possibly due to transport problems for the workers who lived outside the camps. It was also found that there was a significant association between frequency of absenteeism and means of travel. Workers who lived far from the factory had to depend on public transport or personal cars, both of which were unreliable. However, workers who walked to the factory did not show any significantly higher rate of absenteeism than the control group because such workers lived in the company camps and so had no transport problems. No significant rate of absenteeism compared to the control group, was found to be associated with age, ethnic groups, marital status, family size, sex, religion, education or duration on the job. Personal sickness and injury, sickness and/or death of a family member, social problems, transport problems, alcoholism as reasons given for absence contributed 32.8%, 36.3%, l7.5%, 10.4%, 3% of all the spells, respectively. As possible solutions to the problems of absenteeism, the following were recommended: - A better equipped hospital, free ration to workers to supplement their income, revision of salaries, more houses to be constructed for accommodation of those workers who lived far from the place of work. Also loss of Sunday for every employee who absented himself during the course of the week whether it had been certified or not should be abolished, as this demoralized the workers. Better toilet facilities within the factory, destruction of breeding areas for mosquitoes, and shield type protectors and/or goggles for welders and foundry workers were also recommended, since typhoid which is a disease associated with poor sanitation, malaria fever and damage to the eyes due to intense radiant energy, respectively, were some of the causes of absenteeism.
In this paper, literature on subject of absenteeism in industrialized countries was reviewed briefly, and a passing commentary made on what the pattern of absenteeism in Uganda was likely to be. A short history of the company was given together with the social amenities provided by the company for the workers. The set up of Kakira Sugar Works hospital was also outlined. The population studied in total comprised of 1808 people, and all were non-plantation workers. Estimates of the characteristics of this population were determined by studying a sample of 100 people selected from the 1808 people, by stratification followed by systematic sampling. The study lasted 28 days (1st October 1977 to 28th October 1977) and during this period, there were 245 absentees giving 268 spells in all. All the absentees were interviewed to determine the factors that were associated with absenteeism. The results showed 1034 days as total number of days of absence belonging to all the spells, a severity rate of absenteeism of 0.57 days per person, average duration per spell of 3.9 days, a standard deviation of 7.14 days, a median of 44 days, and a range of 44 days (45 and 1 being the two extreme values). 2.2% of the total man-days were lost through absenteeism, and this cost the company Ug.Shs.16,323.80 for the period of four weeks. Initial day of absence showed a peak, on Mondays, and a subsidiary peak on Saturdays. This pattern was more sociological than medical. Frequency of absenteeism was found to be significantly more among workers getting 650/= or less, and less among workers getting 651/= and above. It was also found that workers living far from the factory were significantly more frequently absent than those living in the company camps. This was explained as possibly due to transport problems for the workers who lived outside the camps. It was also found that there was a significant association between frequency of absenteeism and means of travel. Workers who lived far from the factory had to depend on public transport or personal cars, both of which were unreliable. However, workers who walked to the factory did not show any significantly higher rate of absenteeism than the control group because such workers lived in the company camps and so had no transport problems. No significant rate of absenteeism compared to the control group, was found to be associated with age, ethnic groups, marital status, family size, sex, religion, education or duration on the job. Personal sickness and injury, sickness and/or death of a family member, social problems, transport problems, alcoholism as reasons given for absence contributed 32.8%, 36.3%, l7.5%, 10.4%, 3% of all the spells, respectively. As possible solutions to the problems of absenteeism, the following were recommended: - A better equipped hospital, free ration to workers to supplement their income, revision of salaries, more houses to be constructed for accommodation of those workers who lived far from the place of work. Also loss of Sunday for every employee who absented himself during the course of the week whether it had been certified or not should be abolished, as this demoralized the workers. Better toilet facilities within the factory, destruction of breeding areas for mosquitoes, and shield type protectors and/or goggles for welders and foundry workers were also recommended, since typhoid which is a disease associated with poor sanitation, malaria fever and damage to the eyes due to intense radiant energy, respectively, were some of the causes of absenteeism.
Keywords
Employee absenteeism, Absenteeism (labor), Working conditions, Employee fringe benefits, Employee discounts, Occupational health services, Employee morale, Employee motivation, Kakira Sugar Works