In this exercise, we will examine your attitudes towards absenteeism from work. Although you learned in the chapter that absence can stem from job dissatisfaction, the scenarios below show that a number of other factors can also come into play.

Working alone, please indicate the extent to which you think that the employee’s absence in each of the following scenarios is legitimate or illegitimate by using one of the six answer categories that appear below. A legitimate absence might be considered acceptable, while an illegitimate absence might be considered unacceptable. This is a measure of your personal attitudes; there are no right or wrong answers. Add up your scores and divide by 7 to obtain an average. Lower scores represent less favourable attitudes towards absenteeism.

Working in groups of three to five people, discuss the ratings that each of you gave to each scenario. What are the major reasons that contributed to each of your ratings? Compare your average scores.

As a group, decide which scenario is most legitimate, and explain why. Then decide which scenario is least legitimate, and explain why. Compare with the norms provided below.

As managers, how would you react to the least legitimate situation? What would you do?

1. Susan is a highly productive employee, but she is absent more often than her co-workers. She has decided to be absent from work to engage in some recreational activities because she believes that her absence would not affect her overall productivity._______________

2. John is an active member of his community social club. Occasionally, the club organizes community activities with the aim of improving the quality of community life. A few days before a planned community activity, much of the work has not been done, and the club members are concerned that the activities will be unsuccessful. John has therefore decided to be absent from work to help the club organize its forthcoming activities._______________

3. Peter is a member of a project team that was charged with the responsibility of converting the company’s information systems. The work entailed long hours, but the team was able to finish the project on time. Now that the project is completed, the long working hours have taken a toll, and Peter feels quite stressed, so he has decided to stay away from work to recuperate._______________

4. Jane works in a low-paying job for which she is overqualified. She has been searching for a more suitable job through advertisements in the newspapers. She has been called for a job interview and has decided to call in sick to attend the interview._______________

5. Frank has a few months before his retirement and has lost the enthusiasm he used to have for his work. He believes he has contributed to making the company the success it is today. He recently joined a retired persons association where he feels his services are needed more. The association is organizing a safety awareness program for senior citizens, so he has decided to stay away from work to help._______________

6. Joan’s co-workers normally use up all their sick leave. She is moving into a new house, and since she has not used up all her permitted sick leave, she has decided to call in sick so that she can finish packing for the move._______________

7. Anne does not feel challenged by her job and believes that she is not making any meaningful contribution to her organization. Her mother is going to the doctor for a routine medical check-up and because Anne believes the company will not miss her, she decided to stay away from work to accompany her mother._______________

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6 Extremely legitimate 5 Moderately legitimate 4 Slightly legitimate 3 Slightly illegitimate 2 1 Moderately Extremely illegitimate illegitimate