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The Impact of Working Conditions on Sickness Absence : A Theoretical Model and an Empirical Application to Work Schedules

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  • Cédric AFSA

    (Crest)

  • Pauline GIVORD

    (Crest)

Abstract

This paper explores how poor working conditions impact sickness absence through their effecton health. Our contribution is two-fold. First, we develop a static theoretical model based on theconcept of health capital, wherein poor working conditions are partially compensated by higherwages. According to our model, the effect of working conditions on sickness absence isambiguous. Second, we apply our model to the case of working time arrangements and test theeffect of working irregular schedules or shift work on sickness absence, using data from theFrench Labor Force Survey on a specific population (male manual workers in the privatesector). As observed and unobserved heterogeneity may lead to severe bias, we use propensityscore matching methods. Our estimates show that working irregular schedules has a significantimpact on sickness absence. The results are more mitigated for shift work. In any case, theextent crucially depends on age.

Suggested Citation

  • Cédric AFSA & Pauline GIVORD, 2009. "The Impact of Working Conditions on Sickness Absence : A Theoretical Model and an Empirical Application to Work Schedules," Working Papers 2009-06, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    • Handle: RePEc:crs:wpaper:2009-06
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    4. Daniel Arnold & Tobias Brändle & Laszlo Goerke, 2014. "Sickness Absence and Works Councils - Evidence from German Individual and Linked Employer-Employee Data," IAAEU Discussion Papers 201410, Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union (IAAEU).
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    6. A. Cazenave-Lacroutz & A. Godzinski, 2017. "Effects of the one-day waiting period for sick leave on health-related absences in the French central civil service," Documents de Travail de l'Insee - INSEE Working Papers g2017-06, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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