Uncovering sick leave factors in a Swedish retail company - A mixed methods study investigating sickness attendance culture

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute to the existing literature by investigating through a deductive approach the causes and consequences of the sick leaves present in a Swedish company operating in the retail industry. In particular, the study will focus on the role played by managerial attitudes toward sick leaves in influencing workplace sickness attendance culture. Theory: The study revolves around two main theories; the first, developed by Ruhle and Süß (2020), on archetypes of sickness attendance cultures; the second, by Karasek and Theorell (1990), focused on a model called “demand, control and support”. Method: This thesis is built upon an exploratory mixed-method approach. Initial semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed and the information gathered served as a guideline for the selection of the questions included in a survey issued to the employees of the case organisation. The findings of the qualitative and quantitative study were analysed separately and used to draw the final conclusions. Result: The obtained results underlined the presence of great differences between how store managers are trained and their attitudes toward sick leaves. Karasek and Theorell (1990), support, demand and control model has demonstrated useful in providing an insight on the degree of decisional power and the psychological demand characterising the roles in the organisation under study and why some employees rather than others have shown stronger signs of the adoption of a presentistic culture. Evidence has been found that suggest a change in the norms and values of the sickness attendance cultures of the organisation under study. The findings underline how the most prevalent form of culture among those presented by Ruhle and Süß (2020), was the health-focused archetype. Conclusions: From the analysis of the data extracted from the survey, the researchers have been able to find evidence of managerial attitudes producing an impact on the overall sickness attendance cultures. Mover, evidence has been found that suggest a change in the norms and values of the sickness attendance cultures of the organisation under study.