Definition 

According to Johns, “Absenteeism is failing to report for scheduled work. As such, it is the violation of a social obligation to be in a particular place at a particular time.”

Any absence from a place where regular attendance is expected, such as work, college, or a social gathering, is called absenteeism. Absenteeism rates are applied as a meter to demonstrate how successfully or poorly social groups are doing.

Sociological Explanation

Employee absenteeism occurs when employees miss work without a valid excuse. Since it is difficult to distinguish between really ill employees and those who are taking unjustified time off, it can be challenging to gauge the level of absenteeism in a workplace. 

Absence from work was formerly seen as a sign of poor performance on the person’s part and a violation of the implied agreement between the employer and the employee. As a result, it was framed in economic or quasi-economic terms and considered a management challenge. Economists usually believe in absenteeism in terms of labor supply. Absenteeism is now more often seen as a sign of a person’s psychological, physiological, or social adjustment to the demands of the workplace.

An organization’s success is severely damaged by unscheduled absences, which results in lost productivity, higher expenditures for employing extra employees, and poor employee morale.

Chronic absenteeism occurs when an employee frequently skips work, making it challenging to complete their tasks on time and effectively.

Offering a better work-life balance, offering physical and mental health perks, and adopting work-from-home programs can decrease employee absenteeism.

Members of a social group who no longer have as much faith or interest may often skip church on Sundays. These people often attend church due to familial pressure and frequently come up with justifications for not doing so. This type of absenteeism is referred to as social group absenteeism. This is an essential area of research for sociologists and social scientists.

Example

Due to high-stress levels and a lack of gratitude for their services, overworked personnel in high-risk positions sometimes report sick to the company.