Study of the Relationship between Incidence of Sick Leave due to Mental Health Failure and Work Rules About Sick Leave

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the relationships among the support system for return to work, work rules about sick leave, and incidence of sick leave due to mental health failure. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 150 workplaces with a history of use of the occupational health promotion center of a certain prefecture. The questionnaire asked about the number and duration of sick leaves due to mental health failure, the support system for return to work, and work rules about sick leave. Results: A significant correlation between the number of permanent staff and maximum period of sick leave was found (r=0.489, p<0.001), as well as a significant correlation between the number of permanent staff and the period of monetary compensation during sick leave (r=0.315, p=0.031). In addition, in 9 workplaces with more than 1,000 permanent staff, a significant correlation between the period of monetary compensation period during sick leave and incidence of sick leave was found (r=0.670, p=0.048), as well as a significant correlation between the period of monetary compensation during sick leave and the average length of sick leave (r=0.866, p<0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest the possibility that monetary compensation is associated with the duration of sick leave due to mental health failure. Hereafter, to construct a support system for mental health, consideration of the effect of monetary compensation appears to be required.