Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/35241

Title

Exploring models of work absence behaviour applicable to airline employees

Author(s)

Pruser, Kim;  Langan-Fox, Janice

Abstract

There is considerable evidence to indicate that absenteeism is both widespread and a major cost to employers in Australia and overseas. It has been estimated that the total number of working days lost through absenteeism in Australia may be as high as 30 million annuallyand that the cost to Australian employers could be over $7 billion (Wooden, 1992). The causes of absenteeism have received a lot of speculation over the years with several theoretical models being suggested (eg Brooke & Price, 1989; Nicholson, 1977; Rhodes & Steers, 1978, 1990). These models include variables such as: job satisfaction, job motivation, company commitment, supervisory support, routinization, absence culture, union commitment, external responsibilities, and policy conditions. It appears that some variables are common across many work environments (eg job satisfaction, external responsibilities), however individual work places may have variables that are unique to their specific working conditions. The Airline Industry provides a work environment where change always occurs, and a flight attendant works under unique working conditions which include; shift work, handling emergency situations, continuous flying conditions and adjusting to climatic changes. The research paper presents a theoretical model suitable for flight attendants which takes into account these unique working conditions and which was developed from group discussions and individual interviews using the repertory grid technique.

Publication type

Conference abstract

Source

Paper presented at the 23rd International Congress for Applied Psychology, Madrid, Spain, 17-22 July 1994, p. 256

Publication year

1994

Keyword(s)

Absenteeism;  Air traffic control;  Aviation psychology;  Employee participation;  Job satisfaction;  Occupational health;  Organisational behaviour;  Organisational culture

Publisher

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Publisher URL

http://www.ucm.es/info/Psyap/23ICAP/abstract/organiza4.html