Perceived work ability and certified sickness absence among workers in a food industry

The aim of present study was to ascertain the association between perceived work ability and sickness absence among workers in food industry by using both detailed register data and questionnaire interviews. The study was undertaken in the food industry in a concern with four factories and one central administration. A questionnaire was answered by 856 persons (592 women and 264 men and the sickness absence of this persons were obtained from the company register. The main results were that all the sickness absence figures were higher among women than among men, among those less than 40 years and among the blue collar than among the white collar workers. Work ability was statistically significant associated to sickness absence. Low work ability was associated with sickness absence more among women than among men and more among the younger than the older employees. It was concluded that perceived work ability may be useful as a prognostic tool in preventing certified sickness absence.