Magister Commercii (Industrial Psychology) - MCom(IPS) / Through the Health and Safety Act, government has placed pressure on corporate organisations to exercise their duty of care and provide support to employees who may have psychological difficulties. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) is the one way in which organisations can fulfil their duty according to the Health and Safety Act. Human Resource is most important and valuable resource an organisation has which is often not even recognized. The effectiveness of an organisation is to a large extent dependent on the well-being of its staff. An employee assistance programme is designed to help employers manage issues of performance in the workplace. Employees manage the balance between work and personal pressures which have become increasingly part of daily life. Furthermore, the success of this programme depends on the flexibility it has according to the ever-changing needs of employees, organisations and society. The organisation in this study does not have formal assistance programmes in place to provide support to its employees who may have psychological difficulties. This study examines the need of an Employee Assistance Programme from the perception of both the employer and the employee and reveals that both groups have different needs, experience different types of problems and view the EAP in different contexts. Despite the differences in opinion, the evidence indicates that both employer and employee perceive there to be a great need for an EAP.

Magister Administrationis - MAdmin / Nursing is a vital part of the health care delivery system, but managers of health care facilities worldwide are increasingly asked to “do more with less”. Nurses are under increasing work pressure and this often manifests in stress and conflict at work and possible absenteeism. Very few researchers have focused on the patterns of absenteeism among different demographics, length of service and occupational strata. The main question this research seeks to answer is: what is the extent and costs of absenteeism amongst nurses and do seniority, length of service and demographic factors matter at Groote Schuur hospital (GSH). Confined to a period of two years, 2012 to 2013, this study draws on a data set of about 1,635 nurses in order to provide a more accurate analysis of sick leave trends showing occupational levels, gender, age, and race. Nurses at GSH are predominantly female and almost 55% of the workforce is classified as “Coloured”. African nurses in general are younger than the Coloured, White and Indian nurses. The research shows that the nurses in age category 60-66 in fact have a better attendance record; but the data shows there is no overall correlation between years of service and absenteeism. The study suggests that contrary to assumed views, absenteeism is well managed at GSH.

The influence of class attendance on academic performance and whether class attendance should be strictly enforced has already received much attention in existing literature. This study aimed to identify, within a South African context, typical reasons for the non-attendance of second-year accounting students as well as the effect of their absenteeism on their academic performance. A questionnaire was used to obtain feedback on the students’ perceptions of the main benefits of class attendance, their reasons for non-attendance and what, if anything, the lecturers could do to encourage students to attend lectures. Furthermore, statistical analysis of the data was done to determine whether a significant correlation exists between class attendance for a specific module for Accounting in the second year of study and academic performance in the assessments of that module. The analysis was done for the group as a whole. However, due to the differences in the composition of the two language groups, an analysis was also done for the two language groups concerned (Afrikaans and English). The results indicate a low positive correlation in all cases. It was concluded that there are a variety of reasons for class absenteeism. and although the correlation between attendance and performance is not significant, the students perceive lectures to add value to their educational experience. It was furthermore concluded that class attendance should not be enforced. Lecturing styles should rather be adapted, taking into consideration the changes that occur in the technological environment, to accommodate and facilitate a continuously improving learning experience. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Taxation / unrestricted

The study focussed on the effectiveness of control measures for dealing with absenteeism of educators with specific reference to selected schools at Libode District in the Province of the Eastern Cape. It identified the policy framework including rules and regulations relating to the absenteeism of educators. It assessed the effectiveness of control measures which are currently at the disposal of the selected schools and it also investigated the challenges faced by school principals in addressing the challenge of absenteeism of educators in the selected schools. A qualitative research methodology was used in undertaking the study. Purposive sampling was used to select the schools and participants for the study. Participants were comprised of school principals and Education Development Officers. Data was collected through structured and semi-structured interviews. Literature study showed that the management of educator absenteeism is an important aspect of Human Resource Management in schools. Furthermore, the study found that control measures for dealing with absenteeism are not properly applied in many schools and there is no consistency in the manner in which they are utilised by school principals. The study also found that school principals are struggling to manage absenteeism to the extent that some of them are not sure how to deal with educators who abuse leave. The study recommends that school principals should be empowered on leave management through various forms of training which include workshops.

Essa dissertação apresenta uma análise dos temas de absenteísmo e rotatividade em uma Unidade de Tratamento de Sementes, de uma empresa multinacional, localizada em Primavera do Leste – MT. A pesquisa desenvolvida para a análise percorreu duas fases: na primeira fase foi conduzido um diagnóstico com base em pesquisa documental, entrevistas com os gestores da empresa e uma análise da literatura. O resultado desta fase foi a identificação de 13 Hipóteses sobre as possíveis causas segundo as fontes levantadas na etapa anterior. As Hipóteses foram verificadas por meio de dados históricos existentes na empresa e por uma pesquisa com dados primários coletados no estudo de caso. A partir dos resultados da primeira fase, conduziu-se uma pesquisa quantitativa junto aos funcionários da empresa para atestar sobre possíveis causas do absenteísmo e rotatividade. Os resultados para o absenteísmo empresarial apontam valores altos (4%) relativos aos índices considerados ideais pelo mercado nacional e internacional (2,5%) e, é mais predominante entre funcionários do sexo feminimo e indivíduos efetivos. Cada hipótese identificada na primeira fase foi testada a partir da pesquisa realizada e algumas conclusões puderam ser tecidas. O absenteismo é, principalmente, estimulado pela necessidade de cuidado com os filhos, oportunidades de emprego ou de aumento salarial. A rotatividade da empresa tem como causa o tipo de contrato por prazo determinado, a busca de empregos estáveis e melhores salários. O pacote de benefícios não se mostrou ineficiente para reduzir o absenteísmo mas, eficiente para a intenção de permanecer. Como diretrizes recomenda-se o alinhamento da estratégia organizacional às atividades táticas e operacionais e que se estabeleçam indicadores de desempenho para medir a efetividade do plano de benefícios. Destaca-se ainda, mais atenção em programas igualitários do trabalhador, reconhecimento pelo bom desempenho, possibilidade de crescimento profissional oportunizando a todos os empregados a participação em projetos de maior escopo produtivo e estreitamento do setor jurídico ao setor administrativo. / This thesis presents an analysis of the issues of absenteeism and turnover in a seeds treatment unit of a multinational company located in Primavera do Leste - MT. The research developed for the analysis had two phases: on the first phase we conducted a diagnosis based on file research, interviews with company managers and a review of literature. The result of this phase was the identification of 13 hypotheses about the possible causes raised according to sources in the previous step. The hypotheses have been verified by existing historical data in the company and a survey of primary data among the staff. From the results of the first phase, we conducted a quantitative survey of company employees to testify on possible causes of absenteeism and turnover. The results of corporate absenteeism indicate high values ( 4 % ) for the indices considered ideal in domestic and international markets ( 2.5 % ), and it is more prevalent among female employees and effective individuals. Each hypothesis identified in the first phase was tested from the survey and some conclusions could be taken. Absenteeism is mainly driven by the need for child care, job opportunities or salary increase. The turnover of the company is caused by the type of contract for a definite term, and the search for stable jobs and better wages. The benefits package was not efficient to absenteeism and turnover. As guidelines we recommend the alignment of organizational strategy to tactics and operational activities, and the establishment of performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of the benefit plan. What stands out even more is attention on egalitarian worker programs, recognition for good performance, possibility of professional growth providing opportunities for all employees to participate in projects of greater scope and productive connection of the legal and the administrative sector.

Estudos dos fatores que geram incapacidade para o trabalho são prioritários para a adoção de medidas preventivas, na melhoria das condições de trabalho e valorização dos recursos humanos da área da saúde, segundo as recomendações da Organização Panamericana de Saúde para o período 2006-2015. Dentre os fatores de incapacidade para o trabalho de profissionais que atuam em hospitais estão as lesões ostemusculares, que podem estar relacionadas à sobrecarga na manipulação de cargas, adoção de más posturas e a movimentos repetitivos. As lesões osteomusculares por vezes, se associam aos fatores ergonômicos que requerem o estabelecimento de programas preventivos. Nesse contexto foi proposta esta investigação, cujo objetivo foi analisar a ocorrência de lesões osteomusculares e de absenteísmo-doença entre trabalhadores de um hospital mexicano e as condições ergonômicas do ambiente de trabalho. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa dos dados executado por meio de investigação epidemiológica censitária com análise retrospectiva dos afastamentos no trabalho por licença-saúde no hospital de Morélia, México e de um survey para identificação de indicadores de morbidade por lesões osteomusculares e das opiniões dos trabalhadores sobre o ambiente de trabalho. O estudo foi realizado com as licenças - saúde, emitidas em 2005 e 2006 e com a amostra de 226 trabalhadores atuantes no hospital em 2007. Os procedimentos de execução foram: identificação do absenteísmo-doença, validação da versão em espanhol do Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares, aplicação do instrumento de coleta de dados composto pela identificação de aspectos pessoais e ocupacionais dos trabalhadores, do Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares e de informações sobre o ambiente de trabalho. Para apresentação dos resultados foi utilizado o método estatístico de análise percentual, com distribuição de freqüências simples em tabelas e figuras. O projeto de pesquisa foi aprovado pelo comitê de ética em pesquisa do hospital estudado. Em 2005 foram registradas 107 licenças-saúde, 1.177 dias de faltas, índice de porcentagem de Tempo Perdido (TP) acumulado de 0,56%, as licenças-saúde ocasionadas por problemas osteomusculares foram responsáveis 232 dias perdidos de trabalho, correspondente a 19,71% de faltas no ano. Em 2006 foram registradas 118 licenças-saúde, 1201 dias de faltas, TP acumulado = 0,57%, as licenças-saúde ocasionadas por problemas MONTOYA-DÍAZ, M. C. osteomusculares foram responsáveis 303 dias perdidos de trabalho, correspondente a 25,22% das faltas no ano. Dentre os motivos de adoecimento dos trabalhadores, 59,68% dos sujeitos atribuem a causa aos problemas osteomusculares. Os sintomas ostemusculares mais freqüentes foram na região lombar (31,86% e 23,89%) e cervical (24,78% e 15,04%) respectivamente nos 12 meses e sete dias precedentes a coleta de dados. Houve concordância entre o relato dos sintomas na região lombar com a distribuição da freqüência de afastamentos no trabalho nos 12 meses precedentes. Grande parte dos profissionais não percebe os riscos ocupacionais. Os fatores ergonômicos percebidos por 39,82% dos sujeitos foram: sobrecarga física, mobiliários e equipamentos inadequados, danificados e obsoletos, movimentos repetitivos, espaços reduzidos, iluminação inadequada. Conclusões: as lesões osteomusculares causam absenteísmo, existe um grande número de trabalhadores com indicadores de morbidade osteomuscular que podem vir a faltar do trabalho. Aspectos ergonômicos do ambiente precisam ser corrigidos visando a prevenção do adoecimento dos trabalhadores e de prejuízos para o hospital. / Studies of factors which cause work disability are priority for the adoption of preventive measures, improvement of work conditions and valorization of health human resource, according to the Pan American Health Organization recommendations for the period 2006- 2015. Among the factors of disablement for work of professionals working in hospitals are the osteomuscular injuries, which can be related to overburden in handling loads, poor posture and repetitive movements. Many times osteomuscular injuries are associated to ergonomic factors which require the establishment of preventive programs. In this context, this research was proposed aiming to analyze the occurrence of osteomuscular injuries and absenteeism-illness among workers from a Mexican hospital and ergonomic conditions at work. It is a descriptive study using quantitative data approach, carried out through census epidemiological investigation, with retrospective analysis of work absences because of sick leave at a hospital in Morélia, Mexico. A survey was done to identify indicators of osteomuscular injuries morbidity and workers opinion about the working environment. The study was carried out with sick leaves issued in 2005 and 2006, and with a sample of 226 workers of the hospital in 2007. The execution procedures were: absenteeism-illness identification, validation of the Spanish version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, application of the data collection instrument consisting of the workers\' personal and occupational aspects identification, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and information on working environment. For the results display, percentage analysis statistical method was used, with simple frequency distribution in tables and figures. The research project was approved by the hospital\'s ethics committee. In 2005 there were registers of 107 sick leaves, 1.177 absence days, percentage index of accumulated wasted time (TP) of 0,56%, sick leaves caused by osteomuscular problems were responsible for 232 wasted work days, corresponding to 19,71% of the year\'s absences. In 2006, there were registers of 118 sick leaves, 1201 absence days, accumulated TP = 0,57%, sick leaves caused by osteomuscular problems were responsible for 303 wasted work days, corresponding to 25,22% of the year\'s absences. Regarding the reasons for workers sickness, 59,68% of the subjects believed the cause is osteomuscular problems. The most frequent ostemusculares symptoms were in the lumbar (31,86% and 23,89%) and cervical (24,78% e 15,04%) regions, respectively, in the 12 months and seven days preceding data collection. There was concordance between the reported symptoms in lumbar region and the work absence frequency distribution in the 12 preceding months. Great part of the professionals is not aware of the occupational risks. The ergonomic factors perceived by 39,82% of the subjects were; physical overburden, inappropriate furniture, damaged and obsolete equipments, repetitive movements, reduced spaces and inappropriate illumination. Conclusion: osteomuscular injuries cause absenteeism, there is a large number of workers with osteomuscular morbidity indicators who may have to be absent at work. Ergonomic aspects of the environment must be improved aiming prevention of workers illness and losses for the hospital.

No description available.

The purpose of the study was to investigate teachers? perceptions and experiences of the management of learner absenteeism in rural primary schools in the Kavango region of Namibia. This study was conducted in the Kavango region of Namibia where absenteeism has been identified as a problem in achieving quality education. A further purpose of the study was to gain some insight into the management challenges faced by teachers and the strategies they use to reduce learner absenteeism in their classes. The main research question was: How do teachers in rural primary school in the Kavango region of Namibia manage learner absenteeism? This exploratory study was conducted within an interpretive, qualitative paradigm. The researcher used semi-structured interviews to generate data and the findings of the study showed that learner absenteeism is a problem in the rural primary schools in the Kavango region of Namibia. Factors that contribute to learners absenteeism were identified and categorized as family (domestic work); individual (lack of motivation, especially over-aged learners); environmental (changing seasons, such as cold, rain and harvesting); and socio-economic (hunger). The study also found that there is little parental participation in dealing with learner absenteeism because of the lack of teacher-parent relationships; a lack of value for education; and a lack of learner support. Furthermore, the study showed that some the classroom management challenges faced by the teachers in terms of learner absenteeism include the need to repeat lessons for absent learners; a lack of learner motivation; and other individual learner problems. Some of the strategies teachers use to reduce learner absenteeism emerged from findings of the study, including providing a school feeding scheme; presenting certificates and awards to learners for regular attendance; and establishing positive relationship strategies. It was also found that teachers apply an ethic of care in terms of modelling, dialogue, practice and confirmation in order to reduce learner absenteeism in the classroom. The ethic of care was evident in initiatives, like teachers making home visits to assess the domestic situations of learners and giving motivational talks to learners, encouraging them to care for other learners by using prefects to the encourage learners. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

This study investigated and described the manner in which school leaders in the Gauteng North province of South Africa manage substitute educators as part of a strategy to manage educator absenteeism. This study attempted to uncover what management strategies are in place when educators cannot attend to their educational duties. This qualitative case study was guided by the following research question: “How do school leaders manage substitute educators in the Northern Gauteng province?” Using a conceptual framework made up of the elements of management, namely planning, organising, leading, and controlling (van der Westhuizen, 2003), the researcher collected data using semi-structured interviews with school principals. In selecting the first research site both purposive and convenience sampling was used - the criteria for the identification of the first school was whether it uses substitute educators, while the Northern Gauteng province was selected on the basis of convenience as it is within close geographic location to the researcher. Snowball sampling was employed to identify other schools in the Northern Gauteng province that use substitute educators. Ultimately, the study involved five principals that utilize substitute educators on a regular basis. The researcher determined that the main reasons for utilizing substitute educators are for maternity leave for female educators, illnesses like cancer, the hospitalisation of educators for surgery, and also for urgent private affairs and PILIR leave. Schools are lacking policies regarding their substitute educators, which can lead to hindrances in the utilization of substitute educators. All schools have difficulty in finding substitute educators with the ability to teach languages, especially for Afrikaans Home Language, and to a lesser extent English Home Language and English First Additional Language. Other subjects that are challenging to find suitable substitute educators for are Mathematics and Physical Science. The researcher also determined that principals are mainly responsible for the planning of the utilisation of substitute educators, and to a lesser extent the SMT’s. A factor that hampers the appointment of appropriate substitute educators at schools is the availability of finances. Some schools are not able to pay competitive salaries to substitute educators, although they attempt to remunerate them on the same scale as permanent educators. Due to the fact of better remuneration at other schools, quality substitute educators are often lost. The researcher discovered that newly appointed substitute educators’ progress is continuously monitored to ensure that they are well adjusted and that all issues are addressed. The majority of substitute educators are females who were in the teaching profession but left due to family reasons or because they did not want to commit to a specific school. Furthermore, the researcher discovered that the greatest challenge for schools is not knowing in advance when educators were going to be absent. Some educators wait until the last moment to inform the principal of their absence from school. A further challenge depends on the ability of the school to manage a substitute educator. An inexperienced principal may have more difficulty to address this matter. However, most schools have adequate procedures in place to monitor and control the use of substitute educators. Time is of the essence because of the tempo at which education in South Africa takes place. Recommendations for the management of substitute educators include the design and implementation of a compulsory, comprehensive, and focused school policy on the management of substitute educators. More support from the GDE would benefit schools when they are in need of a substitute educator, perhaps even by adjusting their own policy. Substitute educators that are regularly utilised at a school must be actively involved in professional development, especially regarding discipline. Schools need to create strategies to give feedback to substitute educators when they have completed their stint. Finally, the creation of a proficient data base of all educators who desire to do substitute teaching may prove to be quite useful. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2016. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / Unrestricted

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there were significant differences in student chronic absenteeism between schools with high positive scores for perceptions of central components school climate and schools with low positive scores for perceptions of central components of school climate. This study assessed the difference in student chronic absenteeism among elementary schools rated high positive or low positive as well as among high schools rated high positive or low positive for perceptions of school engagement, school safety, and school environment. A series of chi square analyses were used to analyze data to determine if there were significant differences in student chronic absenteeism among schools with high positive ratings for central components of climate and schools with low positive ratings for central components of climate. The data that were analyzed included the number of students who were chronically absent, the number of students who were not chronically absent, and responses concerning perceptions of school climate provided by licensed school personnel on annual state-wide educator surveys administered by the Tennessee Department of Education. The results of the quantitative study revealed, that for both elementary and high schools, there was a significant difference in student chronic absenteeism between schools rated high positive and schools rated low positive for perceptions of school engagement. In addition, the results revealed, that for both elementary and high schools, there was a significant difference in student chronic absenteeism between schools rated high positive and schools rated low positive for perceptions of school 3 safety. Finally, the results revealed, that for both elementary and high schools, there was a significant difference in student chronic absenteeism between schools rated high positive and schools rated low positive for perceptions of school environment. In general, students who attended elementary or high schools rated high positive for perceptions of engagement, safety, and-or environment were significantly less likely to be chronically absent than students who attended elementary or high schools rated low positive for perceptions of engagement, safety, and-or environment.