The rate of unscheduled absenteeism from the job rose 2.4 percent, a five-year high, according to the Unscheduled Absence Survey by Commerce Clearing House.

As has been the case in recent years, the majority of unscheduled absences are attributed to personal illness, while 62 percent are for other reasons:

• Family issues (23 percent)
• Personal needs (18 percent)
• Stress (11 percent)
• Entitlement mentality (10 percent)

   The survey found that although the absenteeism rate rose from 1.9 to 2.4 percent, the cost of absenteeism declined from $645 in 2003 to $610 in 2004.

The survey also showed that more employers are not allowing employees to carry over sick days to the next year, and this trend may be impacting absenteeism rates.

In 2000, 51 percent of employers allowed employees to carry over unused sick days, but in 2004 the percentage has dropped to 37 percent. Employees may be choosing to use sick days, sick or not, rather than lose them.

As has been the case in the past, firms with lower employee morale experienced a higher rate of unscheduled absenteeism. The rate among firms with poor/fair morale was 2.9 percent, compared to a 1.9 percent at organizations with good/very good morale.