Originally found at Forbes.
The flu season is at its peak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) preliminary estimates that 12 to 22 million Americans have had the flu since the start of the season. The flu is not only taking its toll on the ill but also leaving millions of work teams short-staffed. After juggling two jobs for a few days, calling in sick in return is appealing. As phrased by an anonymous employee: ‘‘I carried the load when others were out, so now it is my turn to take time off.”
In many teams, employees mimic how often their peers call in sick. Absenteeism can then quickly spiral out of control, costing American companies billions yearly. Given these stakes, I researched why employees imitate each other’s absenteeism and ways to prevent it.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
In this era of choice and self-care, you might be skeptical that your coworkers have anything to do with how often you call in sick. Yet, research suggests differently.
....Most people like to belong to a group. They observe what others are doing to fit in with the herd. If they copy what popular role models do, they do not fall out of favor. In a team context, an employee looks at coworkers (Academy of Management Journal) for cues about absenteeism. If peers often call in sick, they conclude it is acceptable to call in sick in this team. The reverse is true as well. If colleagues always show up, braving minor health issues or car breakdowns, newcomers learn a different norm. In this team, calling in sick for shady reasons is unacceptable.
Continue reading the original article at Forbes.
Read the original research in Academy of Management Journal.