THE NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL has released figures indicating the financial, accommodation and construction sectors all had absentee levels above ten per cent last year.
Economist Nadia Skeete said it continued to be a “serious issue” affecting productivity, profitability and competitiveness.
Issues like management style, sick building syndrome, poorly maintained air-conditioning systems and chronic non-communicable diseases are some of the reasons advanced for this.
Online readers also shared their thoughts.
Carson Cadogan: The hot house atmospheres in Bajan businesses hurting workers. Hence high absent levels. Improve the level of management and watch a corresponding decrease in absence.
Ayo-Ololara Ifeoma Nomande: One of the hardest things to do is to get up and head to a job that does nothing to enhance skill sets, or learning, and barely covers bills, sometimes bills that are created by having the job in the first place. Employers should be encouraged to treat workers more equitably. We can’t only cry shame on the workers.
Beverley Hunte-Springer: I know I will get some stick for this. An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. An employer owes an employee nothing else. People need to understand that. A smart employer though should treat employees well to ensure the employee gives his or her best. I worked with some young people in a financial institution [and] they would target Fridays and monthends and absent themselves. The more mature workers would be at work constantly. It was horrible. The attitude in the younger people was the problem. My take is that if they are unhappy with the working conditions, leave and find another job.
A Maria Benn: Pay people more than bus fare and cut out de nepotistic behaviours maybe?
Anderson Allman: So when workers ask for a day for an important appointment like taking kids to the doctor, workers supposed to let the kids die or take them to doctor because employers only care about getting their work done?
Sheldon Cox: Employers who treat the workers good have good, loyal employees.
Kevin Watson: Human resource departments in Barbados don’t function like the textbook so if the work environment sucks, what wanna expect?
Lil Pigeon: Where are the BWU and NUPW leadership machinery? Why are the people you represent not showing up for work and producing?
WillieScrapes: Well! Well! Well! On the 49th anniversary of Barbados’ Independence, newly released statistics reveal that employees in Barbados are displaying shockingly low levels of pride and industry.
Sodi: Wow!!! So this is how it is? How can they run an efficient business at maximum profit with those levels of absenteeism? I couldn’t even start to understand how employees could be efficient at those levels. Where are the unions to speak on this?
Erica Murray: One would think with so many people unemployed, that those who have jobs would want to keep them. But how is this? Do these employers provide a written contract to employees at the time of employment? If not, they should.
• Sherrylyn Toppin is The Nation’s Online Editor.