Absenteeism and Turnover Impact on Labor Productivity for Electrical Contractors

This document specifies the effects of absenteeism and turnover on labor productivity for the electrical contracting industry. Losses in efficiency were studied on the macro (entire project) and micro (task specific) levels. Percent absenteeism on the macro level is defined as the ratio between the number of craftsmen that fail to appear for work to the number of craftsmen employed, and on the micro level as the ratio between the number of craftsmen who fail to appear to the original number of workers who were assigned to that one specific activity. Percent turnover was studied on the macro level and identified as ratio of the number of craftsmen hired to replace those who have left to the number of craftsmen employed. This document begins by reviewing literature on the subject and presenting qualitative information determined from 98 responses of a comprehensive questionnaire detailing absenteeism and turnover from both manager and electrician perspectives. Data for the micro-analysis was collected through a monthly data collection form from five on-going projects also located across the United States. Data for the macro-analysis was collected by questionnaire from 31 completed electrical projects located across the United States. Statistical analysis techniques such as, P-Value Tests, Two sample T-Tests, Analysis of Variance, and Multiple Regression were executed to develop quantitative relationship curves. The results showed distinct relationships on both levels with losses of efficiency depending on project specific factors. This paper also lists best practices for electrical contractors to assist in reducing absenteeism and turnover within their company.