The managerial challenges in sickness absence management : Experiences from a retail organisation
Heiskanen, Henna (2013)
Heiskanen, Henna
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2013
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013060513181
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2013060513181
Tiivistelmä
The topic of this bachelor’s thesis is managerial challenges in sickness absence management and the purpose is to find ways to support managerial work. This topic has been chosen because of the costly nature of sickness absences in both monetary and social terms, their pervasiveness in the retail sector and the key role managers have in preventing and managing sickness absences.
According to prior research, many managerial and leadership variables affect sickness absences. Literature also suggests that organisations manage sickness absences in a variety of ways within the framework set by legislation and company policy. Most importantly, research suggests that in a majority of organisations managers are in a key role in the sickness absence management process with many responsibilities.
The study was conducted using a qualitative research method. Four managers from the case organisation were interviewed and the results were analysed in the context of the activity system framework.
The findings suggest that while the case organisation managers are well-equipped to carry out their sickness absence management activities, certain challenges do exist in terms of managerial uncertainty of their own impact on sickness absences and finding substitutes for absent employees. To facilitate managerial work in this aspect, development recommendations such as improving managerial awareness of their own impact and developing inter-departmental cooperation were presented.
The findings of the study add a managerial perspective to the existing literature. The study acts as a basis for facilitating sickness absence management both in the case organisation and other organisations and lays a foundation for further research.
According to prior research, many managerial and leadership variables affect sickness absences. Literature also suggests that organisations manage sickness absences in a variety of ways within the framework set by legislation and company policy. Most importantly, research suggests that in a majority of organisations managers are in a key role in the sickness absence management process with many responsibilities.
The study was conducted using a qualitative research method. Four managers from the case organisation were interviewed and the results were analysed in the context of the activity system framework.
The findings suggest that while the case organisation managers are well-equipped to carry out their sickness absence management activities, certain challenges do exist in terms of managerial uncertainty of their own impact on sickness absences and finding substitutes for absent employees. To facilitate managerial work in this aspect, development recommendations such as improving managerial awareness of their own impact and developing inter-departmental cooperation were presented.
The findings of the study add a managerial perspective to the existing literature. The study acts as a basis for facilitating sickness absence management both in the case organisation and other organisations and lays a foundation for further research.