Absenteeism refers to habitual absence from an obligation such as work or school. There are four types of absenteeism: authorized, unauthorized, willful, and those caused by circumstances beyond one's control. Common causes include inability to understand consequences, personality traits, demographics, stress, and lack of interest. Consequences are both costs to individuals and institutions as well as poor student performance. Solutions include positive teacher motivation, incentives, monitoring, counseling, positive expectations, and interesting activities. The document concludes that cures should be tailored to individual cases as causes and consequences can vary significantly.

2. 3 C’S OF ABSENTEEISM
Aim : To discuss about the
Causes, Consequences and Cure of
Absenteeism

3. Learning objectives
Teachers will be able to
• Define absenteeism
• Describe types of absenteeism
• Tell us some causes of absenteeism
• List some consequences of absenteeism
• Suggest solutions to absenteeism

4. Absenteeism
• Absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absence from
a duty or obligation. (Johns, 2007)
• Absenteeism is the habitual failure to appear, especially
for work or other regular duty. (Moore, 1994)
• The act of staying away from school without
permission (McCray, 2006).

5. 4 Types of Absenteeism
Types of
absenteeism
1) Authorized Absenteeism
2) Unauthorized Absenteeism
3) Willful Absenteeism
4) Absenteeism caused by
circumstances beyond one’s
control

6. Causes of absenteeism
• Inability to realise the effects
(Bossidy and Charan , 2002)
• Personality influence absence
(Steers and Porter ,1973)
• Demographics have an influence
on absenteeism (Lee ,1989)
• Learner stress (Mills, R.C,1995)
• Excess homework, bullied students
• Poor food in canteen, Poor
infrastructure
• Fear to attend
(Chitiyo and Wheeler, 2006).
• Lack of allied activities
(sport, parties….)
• Poor teaching skills (Students
complaining of shouting teacher)
• Lack of subject interest (Mad hated
Math's)
• Lack of personal interest in studies
(story of Ron)
• Personal illness

7. Consequences of Absenteeism
• Significant costs to learners
(Harrison & Martocchio, 1998)
• Financial cost to schools
(Steers and Rhodes,1984).
• Cost to government
(Henry Lloyds Robert ,2004)
• Students poor results
(Morgan, Lillie G; Herman, Jeanne, 1976)
• A Source of Teacher’s Stress
• Learners form bad habits for life
• Creates problems for the
school(Camp .S.D, Lambert.E.G, 2006)
• Parents under pressure to find a
new school if the student is
excluded

8. Cure of absenteeism
• Teacher Positive motivation
(Mayfield, Mayfield 2009)
• Incentive (Frederick Winslow Taylor,1911)
• Disciplinary action (Sommer and
Nagel, 1991)
• Monitoring and counseling
(Garry, 1996)
• Positive expectation
environment (Robert Rosenthal ,1995)
• Clarify rules (Kelvin Cheatle, 2001)
• Positive discipline eg kind and firm
(Corville-Smith, Ryan, Adams, Dalicandro, 1998)
• Interesting activities eg: Lego

9. Conclusion
• Causes are inconsistent, multiple and variable
• Cure should be tailor made , absentees are
individual, treat them case by case
• Consequences are real or perceived
• Consequences are negative but can consequences of
absenteeism be also be positive?

10. References
• Bossidy, L. & Charan, R. (2002), Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Crown Business, New
York.
• Camp .S.D, Lambert .E.G (2006) The Influence of Organizational Incentives on Absenteeism Sick-Leave
Use Among Correctional Workers. Criminal Justice Policy Review, June 2006; vol. 17
• Chitiyo, M. Wheeler, J. (2006). School Phobia and Understanding a Complex Behavioural
• Corville-Smith, J. Ryan, B. Adams, G. Dalicandro, T. (1998). Distinguishing Absentee Students from
Regular Attenders. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 27, 629-640.
• Garry, E. (1996). Truancy: First Step to a Lifetime of Problems. Office of Juvenile
• Justice and Delinquency Prevention. London
• Harrison, David A. And J.J.Marticchio (1998) ”Time for absenteeism : a 20 Years review of the
origins, Offshoots, and Outcomes”. Journal of Management
• Henry Lloyds Robert (2004),www.milkround.com, retrieved 28April 2012
• Johns, (2007) health information management technology. American health information management
association
• Lee , Thomas W.(1989).”The Antecedents and Prediction of Employee Attendance.” Journal of business
Issues 17.
• McCray, E. D. (2006). It’s 10 A.M.: Do you know where your children are? Intervention in School and
Clinic, 42(1), 30-33.
• Monapert, A (1970) The supremacy philosophy of man. Prentice-Hall
• Moore, M (2001), Absenteeism in the workplace, Auburn University
• Morgan, Lillie G.; Herman, Jeanne B(1976) Perceived consequences of absenteeism. Journal of Applied
Psychology, Vol 61(6).
• Robert Rosenthal(1992), self fulfilling prophecy, Harvard university press
• Steer and Rhodes (1984), Steer Rhodes model, Syracuse University
• Sommer, B. Sommer and Nagel, S. (1991). Ecological and Typological
Characteristics in Early Adolescent Truancy. Journal of Early Adolescence, 11, 379-392.