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Absenteeism Definition, Causes, and Solutions
Meaning 1：habitual absence from work or duty (absenteeism)
absenteeism
/ˌæbsənˈtiːɪzəm/
n.
Not showing up for work or school often, especially without a good reason.
habitual absence from work or duty
➕
/həˈbɪtʃuəl ˈæbsəns frəm wɜːk ɔː ˈdjuːti/
n.
The persistent, habitual, or unwarranted absence of an individual from their place of work, school, or other expected obligation.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From 'absent-' (away) + '-ee' (person) + '-ism' (condition), denoting the condition of a person being away.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'absent-teeism': an absent 'tee' (person) creates an 'ism' (a pattern or condition).
📖 Example
The manager was concerned about the high rate of absenteeism after the holiday weekend, as many team members did not show up.
The manager was worried about the frequent unexcused absences after the holiday, with numerous employees failing to attend work.
🔗 Collocations
chronic absenteeism – a long-term pattern of repeated absence
reduce absenteeism – to decrease the frequency of unwarranted absences
rate of absenteeism – the measurement or frequency of absences over a period
🔄 Synonyms
nonattendance (n.) – the fact of not being present at a place where one is expected
truancy (n.) – the action of staying away from school without good reason
absentness (n.) – the state of being frequently absent (less common)
🚫 Antonyms
attendance (n.) – the action or state of being present at a place or event
presence (n.) – the state of existing or occurring in a place
🌱 Derivatives
absentee (n.) – a person who is absent, especially from work or school
📖 Cultural Story
Derived from Latin 'absentia' (absence). The term gained prominence in the 19th century Industrial Revolution to describe chronic workplace absence, a key metric for productivity and labor management studies.
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