Most Finns see family crisis as good excuse for staying home from work
A majority of Finns feel that a major family crisis is an acceptable reason for staying home from work. Nearly all feel that the death of a family member or close loved-one, or the illness of a child are good excuses for absence.
Two out of three would allow an employee suffering from work-related exhaustion to stay at home for a few days to recuperate.
A recent poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup also showed that more than one in four Finnish adults would allow an employee to skip work if he or she is suffering from a hostile work environment, or if there is workplace bullying.
One in six approve of staying away from work because the boss behaves badly.
Fatigue or a hangover following a night of partying is generally not seen as a good excuse for absenteeism.
Women tend to be more willing to accept an employee’s own claim of illness as sufficient reason for not showing up at work than men are.
Women are also significantly more tolerant of taking time off because of fatigue from working too hard - but not from playing too hard. Women are also more sympathetic toward absentee workers complaining of a poor atmosphere at work and workplace bullying.
Nearly all those surveyed were willing to accept the death of a loved one or the illness of a child as a good reason to stay at home, but the study did not indicate how long a leave would be justified in such cases.
Finnish attitudes toward absence from work differ little from equivalent attitudes prevailing in Sweden. In August, a survey conducted in Sweden indicated that 70% of Swedes felt that family problems were an acceptable reason to go on sick leave.
Stress at work and a poor workplace atmosphere were seen as good reasons for absence by about half of the Swedes who responded, and about 40% felt that a strike by day care personnel, fatigue, or difficulties with colleagues at work were good excuses.
The results of the study sparked considerable controversy in Sweden. There were calls to take strong action to reduce absenteeism due to illness.
The Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK) has also called for discussion on whether or not all sick leaves are based on genuine sickness, or if they are being used as therapy to deal with problems in the working community.
Two out of three would allow an employee suffering from work-related exhaustion to stay at home for a few days to recuperate.
A recent poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat and conducted by Suomen Gallup also showed that more than one in four Finnish adults would allow an employee to skip work if he or she is suffering from a hostile work environment, or if there is workplace bullying.
One in six approve of staying away from work because the boss behaves badly.
Fatigue or a hangover following a night of partying is generally not seen as a good excuse for absenteeism.
Women tend to be more willing to accept an employee’s own claim of illness as sufficient reason for not showing up at work than men are.
Women are also significantly more tolerant of taking time off because of fatigue from working too hard - but not from playing too hard. Women are also more sympathetic toward absentee workers complaining of a poor atmosphere at work and workplace bullying.
Nearly all those surveyed were willing to accept the death of a loved one or the illness of a child as a good reason to stay at home, but the study did not indicate how long a leave would be justified in such cases.
Finnish attitudes toward absence from work differ little from equivalent attitudes prevailing in Sweden. In August, a survey conducted in Sweden indicated that 70% of Swedes felt that family problems were an acceptable reason to go on sick leave.
Stress at work and a poor workplace atmosphere were seen as good reasons for absence by about half of the Swedes who responded, and about 40% felt that a strike by day care personnel, fatigue, or difficulties with colleagues at work were good excuses.
The results of the study sparked considerable controversy in Sweden. There were calls to take strong action to reduce absenteeism due to illness.
The Confederation of Finnish Industry (EK) has also called for discussion on whether or not all sick leaves are based on genuine sickness, or if they are being used as therapy to deal with problems in the working community.
Helsingin Sanomat