Ndwandwe, Martin2022-01-272022-01-272021https://hdl.handle.net/10539/32635A research report submitted to the Wits Business School, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Management in Public Policy (MMPP), 2021Absenteeism, which is the practice of not attending a scheduled work duty as expected by an employer, is a serious concern in South African health institutions, which already suffer staff shortages. This study analyses the causes of absenteeism and its consequences for the emergency unit of a public hospital. The research was conducted through a qualitative and quantitative analysis using primary data. Data was collected through interviews and questionnaires with ten participants working at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital Emergency Unit. Data analysis was conducted using codes and themes which were interpreted to deduce meaningful findings. The main findings were that poor working conditions, poor work relationships, poor management and inadequate compensation contribute to absenteeism. Absenteeism has negative repercussions for all stakeholders at a public hospital, especially the public, for whom the absence of staff equates to poor service delivery. Moreover, absenteeism results in the overloading of remaining staff, an increase in pressure on managers, and a poor reputation for the institution as a wholeenAbsenteeismSouth African health institutionsChris Hani Baragwanath HospitalSDG-3: Good health and well-beingDissertationUniversity of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg