Further research

The causes of absenteeism seem to have been sufficiently studied in recent years by various scholars. However, there appear s to be opportunities for further research on absenteeism in the mines within the following parameters :

Factors that contribute to some of the medical doctors‟ behaviour to collaborate with workers in abusing the sick-leave benefit;

Implementation of a holistic employee wellness programmes aimed at reducing illness absence

Potential positive impact of providing family-unit accommodation to migrant underground workers on levels of absenteeism at various mines.

5.9 SUMMARY

The cost of unplanned work absenteeism, its impact on the Company, and affected teams was highlighted in the literature review. Inputs elicited from those interviewed further clarified the nature of the problem. In addition, the secondary data aided in identifying the magnitude of the problem. Based on the findings of the study, it can be said that absenteeism at the Company is caused by multiple factors. Acknowledgment of the findings could help the Company in successfully designing interventions that could reduce absenteeism levels.

As regards the objective of the study, determining causes of absenteeism at a South African Gold Mining Company that seems to have been achieved. The study has identified that absenteeism at the Company is accounted for by the causes mentioned in chapter 4: underground working conditions; job characteristics; management style; the workers‟ personal circumstances; alcohol misuse; and a number of psychological factors including an attitude of entitlement.

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1 Appendix A: Quarterly absenteeism trends at a South African Gold Mining Company

Definition: The definition for planned unavailable include: •Planned Leave •Unpaid Leave •Training •Hospital/Sick

Data extracted per Pay Month – 20th to the 19th '08 Qtr1 '08 Qtr2 08 Qtr3 '08 Qtr4 Jan09 Feb09 Mar09 '09 Qtr1 Apr09 May09 Jun09'09 Qtr2Jul09 Aug09 Sep09'09 Qtr3 Oct09 Nov09 Dec09 '09 Qtr4 YTD

Great Noligwa 19.5% 18.2% 18.6% 16.4% 16.1% 18.1% 17.2% 17.1% 18.2% 18.0% 20.3% 18.8% 19.9% 19.5% 17.8% 19.1% 16.3% 18.1% Kopanang 22.4% 19.5% 21.5% 20.3% 19.8% 19.9% 19.5% 19.7% 23.3% 18.4% 22.8% 21.5% 20.8% 21.7% 24.2% 22.2% 21.1% 21.1% Tau Lekoa 16.9% 18.9% 19.0% 16.8% 14.3% 15.7% 17.2% 15.7% 19.0% 19.2% 20.7% 19.6% 20.1% 23.0% 20.0% 21.0% 20.9% 19.0% Moab 17.9% 20.6% 19.7% 18.4% 16.6% 20.8% 18.2% 18.5% 25.6% 20.4% 22.8% 22.9% 21.0% 24.8% 18.4% 21.4% 16.1% 20.5% Mponeng 16.7% 19.3% 19.5% 17.3% 18.4% 18.8% 17.0% 18.1% 20.0% 20.5% 20.4% 20.3% 20.0% 20.6% 21.7% 20.7% 21.1% 19.8% Savuka 15.5% 20.8% 22.7% 22.2% 18.7% 21.5% 19.7% 20.0% 21.5% 20.5% 29.6% 23.9% 22.8% 19.9% 23.3% 22.0% 19.6% 21.7% Tau Tona 17.0% 17.9% 19.2% 18.8% 16.7% 18.3% 16.5% 17.2% 19.1% 17.0% 20.1% 18.7% 18.0% 18.3% 20.7% 19.0% 20.0% 18.5% Mettalurgy 16.6% 12.2% 13.9% 11.0% 18.8% 13.2% 11.1% 14.4% 14.8% 13.3% 12.9% 13.7% 13.9% 16.3% 14.0% 14.7% 12.3% 14.1% SARS 15.7% 13.5% 15.9% 13.3% 16.8% 15.2% 12.0% 14.7% 13.9% 11.8% 15.5% 13.7% 15.0% 16.4% 9.5% 13.6% 14.1% 14.0% AGAH 8.9% 8.7% 10.5% 9.4% 14.0% 10.6% 9.7% 11.4% 9.1% 9.0% 9.1% 9.1% 9.3% 9.0% 9.4% 9.2% 9.1% 9.8% Navachab 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Avg S.A.D 16.7% 17.0% 18.0% 16.4% 17.0% 17.2% 15.8% 16.7% 18.4% 16.8% 19.4% 18.2% 18.1% 19.0% 17.9% 18.3% 17.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 17.7% 18.3% 18.2% 16.7% 17.2% 17.0% 16.4% 18.0% 17.0% 16.7% 15.8% 18.4% 16.8% 19.4% 18.1% 19.0% 17.0% 17.9% 10.0% 11.0% 12.0% 13.0% 14.0% 15.0% 16.0% 17.0% 18.0% 19.0% 20.0%

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21

Appendix B: Monthly absenteeism trends at a South African Gold Mining Company

September '09 - Planned\Unplanned % Unavailibles - Workmen

0.00% 5.00% 10.00% 15.00% 20.00% 25.00% 30.00% Blocks ( % ) 0.56% 0.00% 0.48% 0.62% 0.13% 0.22% 0.54% 1.42% 3.24% AWP ( % ) 0.85% 1.10% 1.46% 1.86% 1.29% 1.18% 2.00% 1.12% 1.33% AWOP (%) 0.87% 0.71% 0.51% 0.71% 0.64% 0.57% 0.63% 0.70% 0.51% Unpaid Lve ( % ) 0.59% 0.23% 0.42% 0.56% 0.33% 0.69% 0.73% 1.32% 0.23% Paid Lve ( % ) 8.23% 8.91% 8.16% 7.71% 9.85% 10.09% 11.21% 11.25% 13.21% Hosp & Conval, Sick ( % ) 0.61% 4.41% 8.61% 8.25% 7.95% 6.66% 7.88% 10.32% 8.65% Training (%) 0.08% 0.46% 0.63% 1.85% 1.91% 3.26% 1.86% 1.34% 1.25%

SARS MET GNM MOAB TL TT MPO KOP SAV

AWOP – Absent without permission AWP – Absent with permission

Sick – Employees recorded as off-sick

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Appendix-C: Private Doctor’s lay-off trends

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 DR NOTES 41 23 27 24 49 25 39 69 44 57 40 33 29 25 33 25 37 28

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Appendix D: Interview and focus groups questionnaire

Q1. What do you think is the impact of unplanned work absence on the Company? ... ... ...

Q2. What do you think is the impact of unplanned work absence on the Team?

... ... ...

Q3. What do you think are the causes of unplanned work absenteeism in the mine? ... ... ...

Q4. What factors related to the underground mine working environment do you think could be contributing towards unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

Q5. What factors related to the Underground Workers‟ job characteristics do you think could be contributing towards unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

Q6. What factors related to the nature of Underground Worker‟s jobs do you think could be contributing towards unplanned work absence

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... ... ...

Q7. What factors related to the way Underground Workers are being managed do you think could be contributing towards unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

Q8. What Underground Workers‟ personal factors do you think could be contributing towards unplanned work absenteeism?

... ... ...

Q9. What psychological factors do you think could be contributing towards unplanned work absence among underground workers?

... ...

...

Q10. How do you think alcohol contributes towards unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

Q11. What things do you think absent Underground Workers do on days when they are absent?

... ... ...

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Q12. What process is followed in dealing with absent workers when they return to work? ... ...

...

Q13. What do you think works well with the methods that the Company uses currently to monitor and manage unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

Q14. What do you see as areas of improvement in the methods used by the Company to monitor and manage unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

Q15. Do you have any other comments and suggestions regarding the causes and management of unplanned work absence?

... ... ...

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