Abstract
Absenteeism is a disruptive habit that can negatively affect a company’s productivity, revenue, and costs. This behaviour can be defined as an employee’s habit of being absent from work when scheduled to. Absenteeism is classified into two categories, namely, authorised and unauthorised absence. Authorised absenteeism occurs when an employee misses work with justified reasons, such as injury or sickness. Unauthorised absenteeism refers to instances where the employee misses work and fails to give a reasonable justification for their absence. In 2010, the mining industry recorded the highest absenteeism rate due to the harsh conditions in underground mines and the strict health and safety regulations which apply to mining employees. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors that contribute to both authorised and unauthorised absenteeism. This research is a platinum mine case study conducted using a quantitative research technique. A structured questionnaire was distributed to production employees during the induction phase. The absenteeism rate of the shaft for every month in the year 2018 was more than 10%, which exceeds the acceptable limit of 3%. This study finds that job title, working conditions, and poor discipline contribute to this rate. Organisations are well aware of the costs associated with absenteeism, therefore it is essential to determine the root cause of this phenomenon and establish strategies to reduce the rate of absenteeism in the workplace.