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The Relationship between Workplace Conflicts and Subsequent Physician-Certified Sick Leave: A Prospective Population Study

Author

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  • Tom Sterud

    (National Institute of Occupational Health, 0306 Oslo, Norway)

  • Andrea R. Marti

    (National Institute of Occupational Health, 0306 Oslo, Norway)

  • Eirik Degerud

    (National Institute of Occupational Health, 0306 Oslo, Norway)

Abstract

The impact of workplace conflicts on sick leave is largely unknown. We studied the associations between conflicts and physician-certified sick leave in a randomly drawn general working population sample. Eligible respondents were interviewed in 2009, 2013, and 2016 and were registered with an employee relationship ≥50 working days in the national sick-leave register the year following the survey interviews ( n = 22,088 observations/13,731 respondents). We used mixed-effects logistic regression models (adjusted for sex, age, education level, occupation and sick leave days) to assess the associations of self-reported conflicts with superiors or colleagues and subsequent physician-certified sick leave of 1–16 days (i.e., low-level sick leave (LLSL)) and more than 16 days (i.e., high-level sick leave (HLSL)). Conflicts with superiors were associated with LLSL (OR = 1.73 95% CI 1.15–2.62) and HLSL (OR = 1.84 95% CI 1.15–2.94). The corresponding ORs for conflicts involving colleagues were weaker and largely non-significant. The population risks of LLSL and HLSL attributable to conflicts with superiors were 1.95% (95% CI 0.55–3.41) and 3.98% (95% CI 2.08–5.91), respectively. Conflicts with superiors appear to be an important risk factor for sick leave among employees. Organizations are well-advised to develop policies and competencies to prevent and manage conflicts at work.

Suggested Citation

  • Tom Sterud & Andrea R. Marti & Eirik Degerud, 2022. "The Relationship between Workplace Conflicts and Subsequent Physician-Certified Sick Leave: A Prospective Population Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6047-:d:816694
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Svetlana Lakiša & Linda Matisāne & Inese Gobiņa & Ivars Vanadziņš & Lāsma Akūlova & Maija Eglīte & Linda Paegle, 2021. "Impact of Workplace Conflicts on Self-Reported Medically Certified Sickness Absence in Latvia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    2. Live Bakke Finne & Jan Olav Christensen & Stein Knardahl, 2014. "Psychological and Social Work Factors as Predictors of Mental Distress: A Prospective Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(7), pages 1-12, July.
    3. Siegrist, Johannes & Starke, Dagmar & Chandola, Tarani & Godin, Isabelle & Marmot, Michael & Niedhammer, Isabelle & Peter, Richard, 2004. "The measurement of effort-reward imbalance at work: European comparisons," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 58(8), pages 1483-1499, April.
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