VOlUME 04 ISSUE 11 November 2025
Princewill Abumere
Lagos, Nigeria
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2025.v4i11n13Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
Sickness absence remains a significant issue in Nigerian workplaces, affecting productivity, employee engagement, and overall organisational performance. Building on prior research related to employee wellness and wellbeing in Nigeria, this paper examines how sickness absence affects individual and team performance in key sectors, including healthcare, education, and technology. The study employs the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model and the PERMA framework to investigate the relationships among employee health, organisational support, and job outcomes. The findings show that sickness absence has a negative correlation with job satisfaction, productivity, and engagement. However, effective wellness programs can significantly reduce these adverse effects. Recommendations are made for organisations to enhance health management systems, integrate wellness initiatives, and adopt flexible work policies to minimize sickness-related absenteeism and sustain high performance.
KEYWORDS:sickness absence, employee performance, absenteeism, wellness programs, occupational health, Nigeria
REFERENCES
1) Abumere, P.O. (2024). Employee wellness and wellbeing: Impact on employee outcomes. International Journal of Engineering, Management and Humanities (IJEMH), 5(6), 12–25.
2) Ajayi, L.A., Olanrewaju, T.M., Ipinnimo, T., Akinwumi, A.F., Esan, D.T., Fakayode, L.A., & Adeyemi, F.O. (2024). Prevalence and determinants of sickness absenteeism among healthcare workers in a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Occupational Health and Environmental Safety, 15(2), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.3126/IJOSH.V…
3) Bakker, A.B., & Demerouti, E. (2007). The Job Demands‑Resources model: State of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328.
4) EA Journals. (2025). Effect of absenteeism on corporate performance: A case study of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. European‑American Journals.
5) Ganu, D., Ganu, J., & Nyaranga, C.K. (2017). The implementation of workplace wellness programs and their impact on employee work productivity: The case of Safaricom Company Ltd. International Journal of Economics, Commerce and Management, 5(1), 1–18.
6) Hansen, C.D., & Andersen, J.H. (2008). Going to work ill—What personal circumstances, attitudes, and work‑related factors are associated with sickness presenteeism? Social Science & Medicine, 67(6), 956–964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.05.022
7) Obodoechi, S.S., etal. (2021). Gendered drivers of absenteeism in the Nigerian health system. Health Policy and Planning, 37(10), 1267–1277.
8) RSIS International. (2025). Unveiling the hidden triggers of academic staff absenteeism in Nigerian polytechnics: A case study of some selected tertiary institutions of Yobe State, Nigeria. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(8), 2224–2238.
9) Seligman, M.E. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and wellbeing. Atria Books.
10) World Health Organization. (2021). Nigeria: Health system review.
VOlUME 04 ISSUE 11 November 2025
Indexed In