Occupational Medicine 1995;45:131-136
© 1995 Society of Occupational Medicine
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A study of absence rates in male and female employees working in occupations of equal status
Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen Aberdeen, UK
The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which occupational status and age influence absence rates in male and female employees. This involved collection of data for absences of one or more calendar days, including the length of absence and the location, age, occupational status and gender of the worker. This information was supplied by personnel departments on standardized forms. The study took place in three occupational groups in two organizations with equal work status for men and women, located in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In total, we studied 2561 workers (77.8% male, 22.2% female) in employment during the three months between April and July 1992. More women than men took time off work in the study period. Female absence exceeded male absence for spells of absence in ratios between 1.3:1 and 1.5:1, and for days in ratios between 1.2:1 and 1.9:1; age standardization removed the differences in spell rates (in all but one group) and total absence (days). Both men and women took fewer but longer spells of absence with increasing age. Men were more likely to take spells lasting more than one day, but women took more multiple single-day spells. Relative job status affected absence rates, with professional staff taking less absence than support staff. In this workforce controlled for occupation, significant differences in crude absence rates were observed between males and females. Age standardization explained the difference in spell rates in most groups. This suggests that there is little true difference in absence rates and highlights the importance of age standardization in such studies.
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr Chris Sharp, RAF Aviation Medicine Training Centre, Royal Air Eorce North Luffenham, Oakham, Leicestershire, LE 15 8RL, UK
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