Employee Absence Rate Falls to ‘90s Low

The rate of employee absences in the United States is at its lowest point this decade, with family issues and personal illness the most common reasons people miss work, according to a survey of 451 human resources executives released by Riverwoods, Ill.-based employment researcher CCH Inc. The mean average 1997 absenteeism rate slid to 2.32%, from 2.77% in 1996, the unit of Dutch publishing group Wolters Kluwer said. The decade-high rate was 3.07% in 1991. However, mid-size companies were the only firms reporting declines. Large companies reported no substantial change in absenteeism rates, and very small organizations saw a major increase, CCH said.