Absenteísmo-doença de curta duração entre operadores de telemarketing

In recent decades telemarketing has been a major economic service, generating jobs for a young population with medium educational level and without work experience. The evaluation of short-term sick leaves can provide information about health conditions and pattern of illness of workers. Absences from work due to illness cause economic and social impacts. Objectives: This study aims to survey short-term sickness absence data and to discuss the profile of workers who request this compensation in a telemarketing company. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a telemarketing company in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Workers who provided medical certificates up to 15 days between April and May 2013 were invited to participate in the study. Employees were interviewed about sociodemographic and occupational data. Clinical and physical examinations related to the complaint were conducted. Results: The sample consisted of 68 participants, but only 66 agreed to participate. There was a predominance of absenteeism among female employees (87.9%), age range 18–25 years (48.5%) and working up to one year (50%). More than half (82%) provided medical certificate at health service on last year. Frequent sickness cases were conjunctivitis (30.30%), trauma (10.61%) and surgery (9.09%). There were disagreement between the worker complaint and diagnosis described in the certificate in 18% of cases. A third of workers (33%) associated their illness to work. Participants suggested improving workplace hygiene, temperature control, and reduction of workload. Conclusions: Systematic assessments of epidemiology about workers sickness could assist in improving health protection. A proper management of the risk factors associated could help to prevent long-term absence