Helsinki (13.02.2002 - Juhani Artto) There is a common belief that employees tend to extend their weekends by "swinging the lead" on Fridays and Mondays. A new study* has now refuted this view.
The study is based on the sick leave records of more than 27,000 municipal employees over the period from 1993 to 1997. The sample covers a large range of jobs from manual labour to employees in leading positions. The five-year study period includes times of both economic recession and growth.
On average 3.5 per cent of men and 5 percent of women took sick leave during working hours. Older employees had a higher rate of absence due to illness than younger ones. During the economic recession the sick leave rate was lower than in the subsequent period of economic growth.
The sick leave rate was lowest on Mondays, rising until Wednesdays and then remaining stable for the rest of the working week. This pattern was found throughout, regardless of gender, age, income level, locality and sampling year.
The researchers found that one-day sick leaves were 40 per cent more common on Mondays and 90 per cent more common on Fridays than on other weekdays. One-day sick leaves on Mondays were especially common among men and younger employees, which may indicate heavy rates of alcohol consumption at the weekend.
However half of the Monday and Friday one-day sick leaves may be explained by two or three-day illnesses beginning or ending during the weekend. Even when excluding this possibility, the number of additional sick leaves around the weekend make up less than one per cent of all sick leave days.
Based on their findings the researchers conclude that there is no need for special programmes seeking to reduce absenteeism on Mondays and Fridays.
* Jussi Vahtera, Mika Kivimäki, Jaana Pentti: The role of extended weekends in sickness absenteeism