Short-term absence from industry: III The inference of `proneness' and a search for causes

Abstract

Froggatt, P. (1970). Brit. J. industr. Med., 27, 297-312. Short-term absence from industry. IH. The inference of 'proneness' and a search for causes. The abilities of five hypotheses ('chance', 'proneness', and three of 'true contagion' -as defined in the text) to explain the distributions of one-day and two-day absences among groups of male and female industrial personnel and clerks in government service are examined by curve-fitting and correlation methods. The five hypotheses generate (in order) the Poisson, negative binomial, Neyman type A, Short, and Hermite (two-parameter form) distributions which are fitted to the data using maximum-likelihood estimates. The conclusion is drawn that 'proneness', i.e., a stable 'liability', compounded from several though unquantifiable factors, and constant for each individual over the period of the study, is markedly successful in explaining the data. It is emphasized that some of the other hypotheses under test cannot be unequivocably rejected; and there is in theory an infinite number, still unformulated or untested, which may be acceptable or even fit the data better.Correlation coefficients for the numbers of one-day (and two-day) absences taken by the same individuals in two equal non-overlapping periods of time are of the order 0 5 to 0*7 (0 3 to 0 5 for two-day absences) and the corresponding regressions fulfil linear requirements. These correlations are higher than any between 'personal characteristics' and their overt consequence in contingent fields of human enquiry. For one-day absences the predictive power for the future from the past record could in some circumstances justify executive action.When freely available, overtime was greatest among junior married men and least among junior married women.The validity of the inference of 'proneness' and the implications of its acceptance are fully discussed. While interpretation is not unequivocal, one-day absences seemingly have many causes; two-day absences are also heterogeneous but in some ways resemble longer certified absence.It is concluded that short-term absence, particularly of one day, may be largely the overt expression of a traditional desire, even need, to work discontinuously which, though it can be mitigated by often identifiable general and individual circumstances, is consistently more marked in some individuals than in others.In two previous papers (Froggatt, 1970b, c) I have also of lateness, sickness absence, passes from work, reviewed the literature, defined terms and described age, length of service, and other factors. In the the data, delimited the study groups on the basis of present paper I apply curve-fitting and correlation sex, marital status, supervisory grade and employ-techniques to examine the adequacy of five plausible ment class, and studied many statistics in these hypotheses adduced to explain the (discrete) distribugroups mainly of one-day and two-day absences but tions of one-day and two-day absences among the 297

Understanding the "personological" basis of employee withdrawal: The influence of affective disposition on employee tardiness, early departure, and absenteeism.

“…Relatively little is known about the different causes of tardiness (lateness for work; G. Blau, 1994), early departure (leaving work early; G. Blau, 1994), and absenteeism (nonattendance of employees for scheduled work; Chadwick-Jones, Nicholson, & Brown, 1982) despite the major financial costs they impose on organizations (G. Blau, 1994;Harrison & Martocchio, 1998;Judge, Martocchio, & Thoresen, 1997;Koslowsky, Sagie, Krausz, & Singer, 1997). For nearly three decades, researchers have used concepts such as absence proneness (Froggatt, 1970;Garrison & Muchinsky, 1977) and emotional instability (Porter & Steers, 1973) to explain these types of temporary withdrawal behavior. Building on this tradition, more recent explanations have been framed in terms of the "personological" basis of absence (Judge, Martocchio, & Thoresen, 1997).…”

Accident Proneness (Unfallneigung): A Classic Case of Simultaneous Discovery/Construction in Psychology

“…Accident proneness was a personality characteristic or trait that was an added element -a part of one's 24 The annual reports were essentially public relations publications and circulation was limited. Froggatt notes the use of the English term "prone" in earlier medical works, as in "prone to inflammation" (1804) or "prone to migraine or neuralgia" (1899) (Froggatt 1970). 25 See, for example, Newbold 1926.…”

“… 24 The annual reports were essentially public relations publications and circulation was limited. Froggatt notes the use of the English term “prone” in earlier medical works, as in “prone to inflammation” (1804) or “prone to migraine or neuralgia” (1899) (Froggatt 1970). …”

“…The annual reports were essentially public relations publications and circulation was limited. Froggatt notes the use of the English term "prone" in earlier medical works, as in "prone to inflammation" (1804) or "prone to migraine or neuralgia" (1899)(Froggatt 1970).25 See, for example,Newbold 1926. A variation, "personal tendency," in Newbold 1927, was not taken up by other workers.…”

Absence and wastage in trained nurses: a selective review of the literature*

“…The phenomenon of absence-proneness is apparently a problem for nurse managers as there is evidence that some nurses are persistent absentees (Clark 1975). Since short-term absence has been found to be a reliable predictor of i and 2 day absence spells (Froggatt 1970b, Clark 1975, there may be implications for recruitment policies. There is, however, no evidence that the persistent absentee in one job will follow the same behaviour pattern in another.…”