This paper proposes a test for the existence and degree of contagious presenteeism and negative externalities in sickness insurance schemes. First, we theoretically decompose moral hazard into shirking and contagious presenteeism behavior and derive testable conditions. Then, we implement the test exploiting German sick pay reforms and administrative industry-level data on certified sick leave ...

Numerous research projects have been performed during the last decades with the aim to improve the outcome of acute coronary syndrome. Much less effort has been put into optimizinmg the follow-up procedure after an acute life-threatening event such as myocardial infarction. Shortand long-term sickness absence after an acute myocardial infarction is associated with substantial costs for society....

BACKGROUND The burden of sick leave for society and organisations underlines the urgent need to prevent sick leave. An effective workplace intervention for organisations to shorten sick leave episodes is the Participatory Approach (PA). In this study, we hypothesize that implementation of the PA for supervisors within organisations may prevent sick leave as well. However, implementation of the ...

BACKGROUND Although illness is an important cause of sick leave, it has also been suggested that non-medical risk factors may influence this association. If such factors impact on the period of decision making, they should be considered as triggers. Yet, there is no empirical support available.The aim was to investigate whether recent exposure to work-related psychosocial events can trigger the...

This paper proposes a test for the existence and degree of contagious presenteeism and negative externalities in sickness insurance schemes. First, we theoretically decompose moral hazard into shirking and contagious presenteeism behavior and derive testable conditions. Then, we implement the test exploiting German sick pay reforms and administrative industry-level data on certified sick leave ...

PURPOSE Evidence on risk factors for sick leave from prospective studies in work settings is limited. Furthermore, most available studies focused on workers with substantial low back disorders. These studies consistently report that physical work factors constitute a hindrance to work. However, it remains unclear whether the same risk factors are relevant in workers with less severe conditions ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of systematic co-operation among municipal employees on the number of sick-leave days per month and the type of benefit granted by the Social Insurance Office. A further aim was to evaluate the economic consequences for society. DESIGN A 6-year follow-up study with a matched-pairs design. METHODS Days on sick-leave were calculated for each subject one year ...

PURPOSE To investigate the influence of lifestyle, health, and work conditions in the association between education and productivity loss at work and sick leave. METHODS Employees of six companies filled out a questionnaire on demographics, lifestyle-related, health, and work-related factors, and productivity loss at work and sick leave at baseline (n = 915) and after 1-year (n = 647). RESU...

OBJECTIVE To determine which individual and work-related factors are associated with performing modified work and to evaluate the influence of modified work on the duration of sick leave and health-related outcomes among employees with musculoskeletal complaints. STUDY DESIGN A prospective study with 12 months follow-up. METHODS In this prospective study a total of 164 employees on sick lea...

BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated occupational groups reporting low rates of sickness absence because of an assumption that these rates indicate low morbidity. This is inconsistent with the view that sickness absence, which may be caused by social and psychological rather than medical factors, does not equate with morbidity. This paper investigates rates of sickness absence and factors i...