Timing matters : worker absenteeism in a weekly backward rotating shift model

Frick, Bernd and Simmons, Robert and Stein, Friedrich (2020) Timing matters : worker absenteeism in a weekly backward rotating shift model. European Journal of Health Economics, 21 (9). pp. 1399-1410. ISSN 1618-7598

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Abstract

Objectives We analyze the impact of the positioning of shifts (morning, afternoon, night) on worker absenteeism in a large German automobile plant. Methods Using a completely balanced panel of 153 organizational units over the 2-year-period 2009 to 2010 (i.e. 104 consecutive weeks with 15,912 unit-week-observations) we estimate a series of GLM and Fixed Effects models. Results Our main finding is that during afternoon shifts absence rates are significantly higher than during either morning or night shifts and that absence rates are particularly high during the afternoon shift immediately following the 3 weeks of consecutive night shifts. We attribute our first finding to the “social opportunity costs” of working and the second one to a “tax evasion effect”. Conclusions When designing new shift models, firms should try to anticipate their workers’ reaction to avoid unintended incentives.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
European Journal of Health Economics
Additional Information:
The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10198-020-01232-6
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2000/2001
Subjects:
?? economics, econometrics and finance (miscellaneous)health policy ??
ID Code:
149766
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
08 Dec 2020 15:55
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
25 Sep 2024 00:53