The influence of organizational commitment and health on sickness absenteeism: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND The prevention of sickness absenteeism of nurses is an important issue for organizations in health care as well as for nurses. The role of work-related attitudes, such as organizational commitment, as a cause of absenteeism is still unclear. OBJECTIVES To examine the influence over time of organizational commitment, health complaints, and visits to a general practitioner on sickness absenteeism. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS This was a longitudinal, three-wave study in two nursing homes in the Netherlands among 224 nurses. METHODS Questionnaire data (self reports of organizational commitment, health complaints, visits to a general practitioner), as well as absenteeism data retrieved from personnel files was used. RESULTS Health complaints and visits to a general practitioner were found to predict absenteeism behaviour. Commitment was related to health complaints at the same point in time, but did not predict future sickness absenteeism. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT With respect to managing sickness absenteeism of nurses it should be acknowledged by managers that nurses call in sick when they perceive that there is a real health problem, not because of negative work attitudes. It is important, however, for managers to signal signs of decreasing organizational commitment because this is associated with increases in health complaints. This can eventually result in increases in absenteeism.