Repeated short-term sickness absence: A problem to be handled or a symptom to be prevented? A qualitative case study

Abstract

Repeated short-term sickness absence has been linked to poor psychosocial work environment. However, the handling of short-term sickness absence is often driven by a formal monitoring of employees' absence records rather than by a focus on enhancing well-being at work. In this paper, based on interview data, we found that repeated short-term sickness absence was primarily addressed as an individual employee issue, with limited focus on prevention through improvements in the work environment such as fostering trust between employees' and managers and promoting overall well-being at work.