Technician losses in public residential facilities

Abstract

A cross-organizational longitudinal survey was undertaken of state-operated residential facilities to gauge the extent to which technician-level work forces are affected by turnover and absenteeism. Twelve facilities participated in this study for a period of 9 months. Monthly turnover rates ranged from .6 to 4.9 percent, with a average of 2.4 percent. Turnover rates appeared to be influenced by the size, location, and staffing patterns of the individual institution. With respect to absenteeism, the average "lost time rate" was 6.7 percent. Various standards suggest that absenteeism exceeding 4.5 percent disrupts recommended staffing ratios. One may conclude that employee withdrawal, whether in the form of avoidable turnover or unscheduled absenteeism, represents a serious managerial problem for many institutions.