Employee Sources of Stress and Their Associations With Absenteeism: Differences by Wage Category

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between sources of stress and self-reported illness- or injury-related absenteeism (SRIRA) across three wage categories among participants in an employee health and well-being program.

Methods: In multivariate analyses, linear regression models were analyzed separately by wage bands (low, <$46,100; moderate, $46,100 to $62,800; high, >$62,800).

Results: In the low-wage category, child care concerns are positively associated ( b = 0.5, P = ≤0.05), whereas illness or injury of a loved one is negatively associated ( b = -0.6, P = 0.05) with SRIRA. Personal illness/injury is positively associated with SRIRA across all wage bands (in ascending order of wage bands: b = 4.2, P < 0.001; b = 4.4, P < 0.001; b = 4.1, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Results provide evidence that employees in different wage categories experience different home-based stressors, which may impact SRIRA. Employers collecting SRIRA data may be better able to respond to the needs of employees in different wage categories.