Absenteeism in Industry
If employees in war industry were never unnecessarily absent from work output would be raised by a substantial amount. The causes of absenteeism vary in different industries, but they may often be tracked down to conditions for which the employees are not responsible. A sub-committee of the Select Committee on National Expenditure has been examining the problem as illustrated by filling-factories, where much of the work is done by hand in small shops. When the three- shift system was substituted for the two-shift system in the winter months absenteeism, which had been between 15 and zo per cent., fell at once to 10 per cent., rising later to 12 Per cent. It was shown to be considerably higher among women than men. On examining the reasons for the absence of workers the sub-committee found that it was due, sometimes to the long distances workers had to travel without adequate transport, sometimes to poor canteen arrangements, and some- times to the seven-day week. All of these are avoidable causes. Under these heads the sub-committee urges the abolition of Sunday work, provision of special trains and omnibuses, more and cheaper hostels, and better canteens. These are matters demanding the attention of the Ministry of Supply. But this is only one part of one industry, and each industry has in own problems. It is likely that in most cases a more vigilant attention to the special needs of the workers would lead to a fall in absenteeism. A similar inquiry ought to be made in regard to every war industry in the country.
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