engleski

Control of absenteeism by education of the employers: cost-benefit analysis

High costs of payments for sick day leaves in Croatia, and financial burden that is imposed on country economy due to absenteeism, are evident in statistical data. For example, sick day fees paid by obligatory health insurance in Croatia for period Jan- June 2008 were approximately 86.297.478, 00 E and the participation of the costs of health care in BDP averaged at app. 7% in the period from 1998-2004 (Statistical reports of HZZO, various years). Average number of absence days in Croatia were from 53922 in 2005 to 61332 in 2007, showing trend to increase (Statistical reports of HZZO).The absenteeism could significantly affect productivity of small and medium entrepreneurship and is of interest to them to decrease the rate of absenteeism of their workers. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of absenteeism in the SMEs and the effects of education of employers related to preventive health examinations of employees on the rate of absenteeism. The cost-benefit analysis was undertaken (B.T. Yates in Evaluation and Program Planning 32 (2009) 52–5). 18 SMEs (size of 10-50 employees) were included in the study. Data on the rate of absenteeism in 12 months before and after the medical education of employers were collected. The undertaken interventions were: lectures on need for preventive health examination for employees and education on management of human resources for employers. All employees underwent preventive health examination (physical examination and advising on health diet, blood tests, ECG, audiometry, abdominal ultrasound, RTG, and the exams by cardiologist, ophtalmologist, in female: gynecological exam and breast ultrasound ; in men: ultrasound of prostate). All examined persons were employed at least 12 months before and after the period of study. The cost-benefit analysis was conducted after 12 months of activities. Before intervention: the number of employees was 411, with the average number of working days 248 and the number of sick days on average 12.93 per person (rate of absenteeism 5.12%). After intervention for the same number of employees and average of 232 working days, the number of sick days was 7.92 per person (the rate of absenteeism 3.21%). The cost of preventive medical examination for 411 employees was 328800 kn, the cost of education 18000 kn). The loss of employers for sick days was: before intervention 248.68 kn x 5.315 sick days = 1321734.20 kn ; after intervention 248.68 kn x 3.256 sick days = 809702.08 kn. Even with the cost of preventive examinations, employers saved 165232.12 kn (conversion rate 1E = 7.4 kn). Table 1 shows the qualification structure of the employees in regard of the number of sick days. The least number of sick days were in the group with university education. This study confirmed the financial benefits of introducing regular yearly preventive medical examination for employees, resulting in reduction of sick days, earlier detection of diseases and better health of working population. It also proved that education of employers can result in benefits not only for the companies in terms of financial stability and profit, but also benefit the health of employees and country‘s economy in whole.

preventive health examination; cost-benefit analysis; absenteeism

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