Aging workforce and improved sick-leave benefits contribute to increase
The number of employees off work sick for all or part of the week has increased over the past 10 years, according to Statistics Canada.
The study, Trends and seasonality in absenteeism, found the number of employees absent from work each week due to their own illness or disability increased from 431,000 (3.8 per cent of the workforce) in 1997 to 758,000 (5.4 per cent of the workforce) in 2006.
The greatest increase has been for part-week absences (less than five days), which more than doubled from 232,000 (2.0 per cent of the workforce) to 496,000 (3.5 per cent of the workforce). Full-week absences also increased, but only by about one-third from 199,000 (1.8 per cent of the workforce) to 262,000 (1.9 per cent of the workforce).
The study suggests the aging of the workforce and improved sick-leave entitlements contributed to the increase in absences.
Gender differences
The study found women were more likely than men to be absent either for all or part of the week.
Seasonal differences
Part-week absences were 30 per cent more common from December to February and 20 per cent less common from June to August. Full-week absences showed very little seasonal variance.
The study, Trends and seasonality in absenteeism, found the number of employees absent from work each week due to their own illness or disability increased from 431,000 (3.8 per cent of the workforce) in 1997 to 758,000 (5.4 per cent of the workforce) in 2006.
The greatest increase has been for part-week absences (less than five days), which more than doubled from 232,000 (2.0 per cent of the workforce) to 496,000 (3.5 per cent of the workforce). Full-week absences also increased, but only by about one-third from 199,000 (1.8 per cent of the workforce) to 262,000 (1.9 per cent of the workforce).
The study suggests the aging of the workforce and improved sick-leave entitlements contributed to the increase in absences.
Gender differences
The study found women were more likely than men to be absent either for all or part of the week.
Seasonal differences
Part-week absences were 30 per cent more common from December to February and 20 per cent less common from June to August. Full-week absences showed very little seasonal variance.
