Sickness Absence and Works Councils: Evidence from German Individual and Linked Employer-Employee Data

33 Pages Posted: 21 Oct 2014

See all articles by Daniel Arnold

Daniel Arnold

University of Trier

Tobias Brändle

University of Tuebingen; Institute for Applied Economic Research (IAW)

Laszlo Goerke

University of Trier - Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: October 2014

Abstract

Using both household and linked employer-employee data for Germany, we assess the effects of non-union representation in the form of works councils on (1) individual sickness absence rates and (2) a subjective measure of personnel problems due to sickness absence as perceived by a firm's management. We find that the existence of a works council is positively correlated with the incidence and the annual duration of absence. We observe a more pronounced correlation in western Germany which can also be interpreted causally. Further, personnel problems due to absence are more likely to occur in plants with a works council.

Keywords: Absenteeism, LIAB, personnel problems, sickness absence, SOEP, works councils

JEL Classification: J53, I18, M54

Suggested Citation

Arnold, Daniel and Brändle, Tobias and Goerke, Laszlo, Sickness Absence and Works Councils: Evidence from German Individual and Linked Employer-Employee Data (October 2014). SOEPpaper No. 691, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2512226 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2512226

Daniel Arnold (Contact Author)

University of Trier ( email )

15, Universitaetsring
Trier, 54286
Germany

Tobias Brändle

University of Tuebingen ( email )

Melanchthonstraße 30
Tuebingen, 72074
Germany

Institute for Applied Economic Research (IAW) ( email )

Ob dem Himmelreich 1
Tubingen, 72074
Germany

Laszlo Goerke

University of Trier - Institute of Labour Law and Industrial Relations in the European Union ( email )

Behringstraße 21, 7. Floor, Building H
Trier, 54296
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.iaaeu.de/

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 7 / 9
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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