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435 Self-certified sickness absence among young municipal employees – changes from 2002 to 2016 and occupational class differences
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  1. H Sumanen,
  2. O Pietiläinen,
  3. M Mänty
  1. Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland

Abstract

Introduction Young employees have self-certified 1–3 day sickness absence (SA) more often than their older counterparts, but the burden of self-certified SA and its occupational class differences have only little previous evidence. We examined the changes in self-certified SA among young employees from 2002 to 2016 and the magnitude of occupational class differences during that period.

Methods All 18–34 year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland were included (2002–2016, n=~11 725 per year). Employer’s personnel and SA registers were used. Occupational class was categorised to four groups: managers and professional, semi-professionals, routine non-manuals and manual workers. Changes in the self-certified SA spells and days from 2002 to 2016 were analysed with joinpoint regression and the magnitudes of occupational class differences were estimated with the relative index of inequality (RII).

Results Most of the trends first increased and turned to decrease in 2007/2010. Managers and professionals had the least amount of self-certified SA, but steadily increasing trends were observed among men. Self-certified SA followed only partially the typical socioeconomic gradient, as routine non-manuals had the highest levels of SA. The magnitude of occupational class differences in self-certified SA was stable during the study period only among women. Self-certified SA and occupational class differences have increased in recent years among men in the lower occupational classes.

Conclusion Socioeconomic differences exist in self-certified SA among young employees, but gradient is only partial. Overall, high amounts of self-certified SA especially in the lower occupational classes are in need for further studies and preventive measures.

  • short-term sick-leave
  • young adults
  • socioeconomic differences
  • gender
  • municipal employees

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