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. 2023 Feb 3;20(3):462-471.
doi: 10.47626/1679-4435-2022-757. eCollection 2022 Jul-Sep.

Costs of sickness absence in a service company in Colombia: case analysis by gender and occupation

Francisco Palencia-Sánchez  1 , Martha Isabel Riaño-Casallas  2
Affiliations

Costs of sickness absence in a service company in Colombia: case analysis by gender and occupation

Francisco Palencia-Sánchez et al. Rev Bras Med Trab. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Introduction: Sickness absence is a phenomenon that has an impact on productivity, costs, and the working environment.

Objectives: To understand the patterns of sickness absence by gender, age, and occupation, as well as its association with cost in a service company.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study based on the sick leave data for 889 employees in one service company. The total number of sick leave notifications registered was 156. We performed a t-test for gender and a non-parametric test for the mean differences related to cost.

Results: We found that women registered more sick days than men, accounting for 68.59% of all sick days recorded. Absence due to sickness was more common in the age range of 35-50 years for both men and women. The mean number of days lost was 6, and the average cost was 313 U.S. dollars. Chronic disease was the main cause of sick leave, representing 66.02% of all absent days. There were no differences in the mean number of days of sick leave between men and women.

Conclusions: There is no statistical difference in the number of days of sick leave between men and women. The costs of absence related to chronic disease are higher than those for other causes, so it is good practice to try developing health promotion programs in the workplace to prevent chronic disease in the working age population and reduce its associated costs.

Introdução: A licença médica é um fenômeno que afeta a produtividade, os custos e o ambiente de trabalho.

Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo é compreender os padrões de licença médica por sexo, idade, ocupação e sua relação com os custos de uma empresa de serviços.

Métodos: Realizamos um estudo transversal com base nos dados de licença médica de 889 funcionários de uma empresa de serviços. Registraram-se 156 notificações de licença médica. Realizamos um teste t por sexo e um teste não paramétrico para testar as diferenças médias relacionadas aos custos.

Resultados: Verificamos que as mulheres registraram mais dias de licença médica (68,59%) do que os homens. A licença médica foi mais comum na faixa etária de 35-50 anos, tanto para homens quanto para mulheres. O número médio de faltas foi de 6 dias e os custos médios foram de 313 dólares americanos. As doenças crônicas foram a principal causa de licença médica (66,02%). Não houve diferença da média de dias de licença médica entre homens e mulheres.

Conclusões: Não houve diferença estatística de dias de licença médica entre homens e mulheres. Os custos de licença médica relacionados a doenças crônicas são mais altos do que os de outras causas, portanto constitui boa prática tentar desenvolver programas de promoção da saúde no ambiente de trabalho, para prevenir doenças crônicas na população economicamente ativa e reduzir seus custos associados.

Keywords: absenteeism; chronic diseases.; cost; sick leave; sickness absence patterns.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cost of sick leave by gender. F = female: M = male; USD = U.S. dollars.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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