Workplace absenteeism and alcohol use: A sequential analysis.

Abstract

This investigation examined the day-to-day relationship between alcohol use and workplace absenteeism among a sample of participants (N = 280) employed in 1 of 3 large companies located in the northeastern U.S. With a semistructured interview, information was collected from employees about specific days of drinking during a 1-month period and marked on a calendar. Data about employees' absences during the same target time period were collected from the companies' human resource departments and were also marked on a calendar. A significant relationship was found between alcohol use and workplace absences; workers were roughly 2 times more likely to be absent from work the day after alcohol was consumed.

Associations of occupational attributes and excessive drinking

“…Most of the 56.6 million adult binge drinkers (74.7%) and 16.5 million heavy drinkers (74.0%) were employed in 2010 (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2011). For employers, consequences of employees' excessive drinking include high job turnover rates, co-worker conflict, injuries, higher health benefit costs, and workplace aggression (Mangione et al, 1999;McFarlin et al, 2001;McFarlin and Fals-Stewart, 2002;Webb et al, 1994). Economic costs resulting from lost productivity, health care costs, and legal and criminal consequences of excessive drinking were estimated $223.5 billion in 2006 (Bouchery et al, 2011).…”

Occupation as an Independent Risk Factor for Binge Drinking

“…(7) For employers, consequences of employee binge drinking include high job turnover rates, coworker conflict, injuries, higher health benefit costs, and workplace aggression. (8)(9)(10)(11) Economic costs resulting from lost productivity, health care costs, and legal and criminal consequences of binge drinking were estimated at $170.7 billion in 2006, more than 76% of the total costs of excessive alcohol consumption. (12,13) Binge drinking may be affected by work-related mechanisms like social networks (14) and job stress that vary across occupations.…”

Does drinking affect long-term sickness absence? A sample selection approach correcting for employment and accounting for drinking history

“…For example, it has been shown that the risk of short-term absenteeism is increased the day after alcohol consumption (McFarlin and Fals-Stewart, 2002). A Finnish study using micro-data found a positive association between the level of consumption and absence (Johansson et al, 2009).…”