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E-ISSN : 2288-2766
Union Characteristics and its Impact on Absenteeism in the Context of Metal Industry in South Korea
Abstract
Purpose – This study aims to examine whether key differences in characteristics of unions have significant implications for absenteeism. The previous studies on the union impact on absenteeism have found that union increases absenteeism when workers perceive the effectiveness of union protection against managerial disciplinary measures against absenteeism. However, they were not able to uncover what characteristics of unionism affect worker’s decision to be absent. To uncover what characteristics of union made workers make decisions to be absent, this study used such key dimensions of unionism as democracy, cooperative strategy of a union, and d density rate. Research design, data, and methodology – The research model of this study is that absenteeism has positive relations with union's democracy and density. But it has negative relations with union cooperative strategy. This study was conducted by survey method on 333 local unionized business entities of metal industry in South Korea. Usable responses turned out to be 133 with 40 %of response rate. Absence rate as a dependent variable was measured into five scales. The data was collected through multi-survey methods. Data analysis methods was ordered probit regressions. Result –The result shows that significant and positive relationship between unions with high density rates, democracy and absenteeism which is in line with the argument of the previous studies. Different from the expectation, the hypotheses 2, it has been shown that there is positive relation between cooperative strategy of union and the decision of workers to be absent. Conclusion – Employers with unions with high density rates could not fully exercise disciplinary power against those workers absent at workplace since a strong union shields them effectively from punishments by employers. Democratic unions encourage members to be involved in union activities to make voice of them within a union structure and members can build strong cohesiveness within a union and be more closely engaged in each other. Another factor that may be causing higher absence rates is pay level and this result indicates that workers with high wage level would not want to dismiss from highly paid company. The study finding implies that to reduce absenteeism at workplace, employers should take strategic approaches toward unions.
- keywords
- Characteristics of unionism, Democracy, Union density, Cooperative strategy, Absenteeism, Exit-Voice effect
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