ABSENTEEISM IN INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 31, 31 October 1942, Page 6

ABSENTEEISM IN INDUSTRY

Wellington Figures

FACTORIES’ HEAVY LOSS OF PRODUCTION

The problem of absenteeism in industry is exercising the minds of those who are responsible for the maintenance of production. Figures showing the reduction of the production capacity of two of Wellington’s larger factories whicli have now become available. show that the working of overtime in the factories is largely nullified by the absenteeism of workers.

One factory lias prepared figures for the period from August 1 to October 22. In the month of August the total overtime worked was 13634 hours, while the loss of normal working hours through absence of employees amounted to 1875 hours. In September the respective figures were 10311 hours and 18591 hours, while in this month, to October 22. they were 968 hours and 13484 hours. The totals for the period from August 1 to October 22 were therefore 3362 hours overtime worked and 5083 hours lost through absenteeism.

A second factory presents its figures is another form. If all its employees worked Hie full 40-hour week, the total man-hours would be 13.530. lint an average shows that 1317 hours of normal working time are lost weekly through absenteeism. This, it is pointed out. is equivalent to the reduction of the 40-hour week to 36 hours approximately. or a production loss of nearly 10 per eent. In addition, overtime work offered to the employees amounted to 4557 hours, but only 2601 hours were worked, or approximately 57 per cent