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Sickness Absence and Peer Effects -Evidence from a Swedish Municipality

Author

Listed:
  • Bokenblom, Mattias

    (Department of Business, Economics, Statistics and Informatics)

  • Ekblad, Kristin

    (Department of Business, Economics, Statistics and Informatics)

Abstract

In this paper we use detailed employment records to study to what extent sickness absence among work group colleagues influences individual sickness absence. Our results indicate an overall positive peer effect. However, further analysis show peer behavior to be important for women’s sickness absence, but not for men’s, and that woman are only affected by their female co-workers. Our findings also suggest that it, on average, takes two to three years for a new employee to become influenced by the absence pattern of the work group. In light of our results, we cannot rule out the possibility of social norms being important to the individual sick leave decision.

Suggested Citation

  • Bokenblom, Mattias & Ekblad, Kristin, 2007. "Sickness Absence and Peer Effects -Evidence from a Swedish Municipality," Working Papers 2007:11, Örebro University, School of Business, revised 14 Sep 2010.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:oruesi:2007_011
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    File URL: https://www.oru.se/globalassets/oru-sv/institutioner/hh/workingpapers/workingpapers2007/wp-11-2007.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Peer effects; sickness absence; social norms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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