24 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he had any survey carried out to determine the extent of absenteeism from work in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the results of a survey conducted by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, showing that over 12 million days were lost through absenteeism in Ireland last year; his views on whether this is a satisfactory situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
122 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment his views on the high levels of absenteeism in the Irish workforce; and the efforts, if any, he is making to reduce these levels.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 122 together.
There are no official statistics on the level of absenteeism among the Irish workforce. However, there have been a number of surveys and reports on the subject, including one recently undertaken by the Irish Business and Employers Confederation. These are outlined in a tabular statement which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
Absenteeism rates are difficult to assess and compare due to the existence of different definitions of the term. The IBEC definition was fairly wide — it includes maternity leave, certified illness as well as both excused and unauthorised absences. The definition covered all days lost from work for whatever reason.
Absenteeism is a cause of concern due to its detrimental effects in terms of increased costs and reduced productivity and competitiveness. The control of absenteeism is an essential element in managing an enterprise and is the primary responsibility of the management at each workplace. Experience has shown that those enterprises which have adopted specific absence control policies and measures, including the keeping of necessary records, have been successful in reducing absenteeism. It is, therefore, clearly in the interests of enterprises to implement suitable absenteeism control strategies. Assistance in this regard is available to member companies of such representative bodies as IBEC. I would strongly urge enterprises to take appropriate measures in this area and to adopt progressive personnel policies generally with a view to reducing absenteeism and having a motivated and satisfied workforce.
Table
Studies and Reports on Absenteeism
|
1975 |
Absenteeism in Irish Industry C. O'Muircheartaigh |
IPC research |
|
1977 |
Absenteeism in Ireland —A Short Study (CMO Aer Lingus) |
Paper read at IPM Conference |
|
1980 |
Absenteeism Conference (FUE) |
FUE study |
|
1981 |
Preventing Absenteeism B. Kelly (IPC) |
Booklet aimed at prevention |
|
1982 |
Short-term Absenteeism |
Departmental Working Group |
|
1984 |
Survey of Employee/Industrial Relations in Irish Private Sector Manufacturing Industry (IDA) |
IDA-sponsored research |
|
1984 |
Report of Ministerial Task Force on Absenteeism in Industry |
Department of Industry and Commerce |
|
1986 |
Report to the Steering Committee Employer-Labour Conference |
ELC Report |
|
1986 |
Absenteeism in the Public Service E Blennerhasset and P. Gorman (IPA) |
Commissioned by Department of the Public Service |
|
1986 |
Absenteeism: the missing facts G. Redmond (IMI) |
Report of IMI-funded Absenteeism Control Programme |
Does the Minister not recognise there is a serious gap in the information on industrial and economic performance when we do not know how we compare on an indicator such as absenteeism? Is he aware that IBEC estimate the cost of absenteeism is £600 million in lost output? Its document suggests our rate of absenteeism is two and a half times that of Japan and higher than several other countries. Will he carry out the survey as suggested?
The Deputy obviously read the IBEC report and he will be aware that it quotes the recent survey in the UK's bulletin of social trends in the European Community which found that Ireland has an absentee rate of 1.2 per cent, the fourth lowest within the Community. It compares with rates of 4.6 per cent in Holland, the highest rate in the Community, and 2.7 per cent in Britain. Absenteeism in this survey was defined on different bases. However, we have data that enable us to look at our performance relative to other countries. They are not entirely comparable because of the lack of a unified definition of what absenteeism constitutes. The cost of absenteeism to the Irish economy is totally unacceptable. It is calculated that 11 days per worker per year were lost on average due to absenteeism, a total of 12.5 million working days per year, at a relative cost of £575 million. There are structures in place, for example, programmes to assist management who have the primary responsibility in reducing the level of absenteeism. Independent surveys from all quarters indicate that management is the primary agent for ensuring that levels of absenteeism are reduced by the implementation of such programmes.
The Minister appears to be relatively happy with the reliance on second or third hand statistics based on questions that make it difficult to compare data. I ask him to justify his attitude. Does he see his Department as having no role in the encouragement of a reduced level of absenteeism in the workplace and an improved statistical return in this area?
I regret the Deputy believes I was complacent and satisfied with a loss of 12.5 million working days to the Irish economy at a cost of £575 million. On the contrary, I am far from complacent in this regard but the primary responsibility lies with management. There is no other mechanism available to my Department in regard to the level of absenteeism unless management take action. Management could introduce absenteeism programmes and there are numerous models available through employer organisations such as IBEC. If the level of communication through works councils and information exchange within enterprises was developed by management, awareness of the significance and cost to the overall viability of an enterprise and, consequently, the vulnerability of workers' jobs would be heightened and the level of absenteeism would be reduced. I do not regard this issue with complacency. When one contrasts the number of days lost through industrial disputes as against absenteeism, the figures are frightening and it is a problem that affects everybody. Primary responsibility rests with management and we are ready to provide assistance if they take the initiative.
Will the Minister not agree that in a significant proportion of cases the conditions of work give rise to such absenteeism will he consider requesting the European Foundation for Living and Working Conditions, which operates here on behalf of the European Community, to carry out a study on this matter, formulate a standard means of measuring absenteeism and identify the issues which bring about such a high level of absenteeism?
There is some merit in that suggestion and I will consider it. We need to know why those figures are so high. Such a study may provide an explanation.
The Minister has not referred to his negotiating position in relation to national agreements such as theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress. Having regard to the reservations he has about absenteeism, will he agree that it would be right to raise this matter in negotiations on any new agreement between the employers, trade unions and the Government?
That matter could be given consideration.
Will the Minister agree that one of the areas contributing to absenteeism is that of rotating sick leave within companies where there is an agreed amount of sick leave on an annual basis which is taken almost as part of the holiday agreement within a company? Perhaps this antiquated practice could be considered in ongoing discussions between the unions, it does not contribute to harmony within the workplace because some workers would not avail of it in that way. It creates obvious difficulties and, from the statistics, it is one of the major contributors to absenteeism.
I do not want to prejudge the outcome of any survey but I will convey to IBEC and to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions our concern on behalf of the taxpayer that 12.5 million working days are lost through absenteeism, something we need to consider. We have been successful in considerably reducing the number of days lost through industrial disputes and we now need to focus on absenteeism.
I thank the Minister for indicating that there will be a survey which will give us firm information on which to base our proposals. Will the Minister include an examination of the tax and welfare system because there is no doubt there is very cruel treatment of families with large numbers of dependents which is creating problems with regard to absenteeism?
I would not like to mislead the House. I did not indicate that there would be a survey. I said I will respond to the proposal by Deputy De Rossa to look at the statistics that came out of the survey of 350 companies by IBEC over a one year period. If the Institute for Living and Working Conditions in Loughlinstown has something to add or if the Department can establish some basis to get behind the reason for this appalling statistic, I will certainly make the findings available to the House in due course through the normal channels. We need to deal with this massive problem, irrespective of the causes.
The Minister indicated that this is a massive problem and then gave statistics that would suggest we are the fourth best in Europe which indicates that we do not have a massive problem. Will the Minister accept there is confusion in those figures and that unless the Minister does a survey under the aegis of the Department which would look at the extent, causes and possible remedial action to be taken, we cannot deal with the problem? By not having such a survey, the Minister is failing to contribute to our understanding of the problem — although we cannot decide whether we have a problem unless we have figures on which we can rely as to the extent and cause of the problem.
I responded to a question from Deputy Bruton in respect of comparable analysis and referred to two other European countries. We have a major problem and the European statistics to which I referred indicate that Europe has a major problem in terms of international competitiveness. We have a major problem when we are losing 12.5 million working days per annum through absenteeism and we must address it.
