Information Literacy: Communicate your information

Specimen (sample) essay / assignment

A short example of what an academic essay or research project should look like.

Title page

Do not number your title page.

ND: MANAGEMENT
Human Resource Management II

MANAGING ABSENTEEISM

Lecturer: Mrs B Smit
Date: 1 March 2011

Name: Ms N J Botha
Student number: 201103447

Table of Contents NB: Ensure that the page numbers in your Table of Contents correlate with the text of your assignment. Always do your Table of Contents last.			TABLE OF CONTENTS
				Page
	1.	Introduction		1
	2.	Reasons for absenteeism		1
	3.	Effects of absenteeism		2
	4.	Conclusions		4
	5.	Bibliography		5

The text of your assignment, with pages and sections clearly numbered, with a coherent introduction and conclusion. Spacing: 1.5 for text. NB. Check that you have: 1. stuck to the topic 2. displayed clear, logical development and organisation: spacing, paragraphing, numbering etc. should be logical and consistent 3. used correct referencing techniques 4. checked spelling, grammar and punctuation 5. wrote objectively, in an impersonal academic style Note: Long quote indented in smaller font. Use font size 10.		MANAGING ABSENTEEISM
	1.	Introduction

		Absenteeism is a costly and disruptive problem and places unnecessary pressure on staff that are at work. Until they investigate, companies normally do not realise the cost of absenteeism until they actually measure it.

	2.	Reasons for absenteeism

		According to Van der Merwe (1988:7-8) the reasons for absenteeism can be devided in three categories, namely personal factors, organisational factors and attitudinal factors.

		Markowich (1996:116) states that some employees have the mentality that the "time is due to me - whether I'm sick or not", or see sick leave as "use-or-lose benefits".

	3.	Effects of absenteeism

		Absenteeism has many devastating effects on organisations all around the world. Perry (1997:9) states that:

		"The real cost of chronic absenteeism then is lowered morale among other employees who must shoulder the work load, lost revenue from sales not made, the loss of customers who flee to competitors for better service, a decline in business from poor service and the expense of additional temporary workers."

	4.	Conclusion

		What became clear in this study was that it is extremely important for staff to see that absenteeism would not be tolerated, otherwise it would lead to worsening absenteeism and a host of other negative effects on the workers and on the organisation. The sooner management and supervisors act on absenteeism, the better for the department, organisation and the employees. It is important to realise that there are many success stories in business where absenteeism was reduced to an acceptable rate.

A bibliography of all sources consulted, in alphabetical order. This bibliography is according to the Harvard style. How to compile a bibliography: Harvard style Vancouver style	5.	Bibliography
		Markowich, M M. Eckberg, S. 1996. Get control of the absentee-minded. Personnel Journal, 115-120, December.

		Perry, P M. 1997. Confronting the no-show. American Nurseryman, 185:89-95, January 15.

		Van der Merwe, R. Miller, S. 1988. Measuring absence and labour turnover. Johannesburg. Lexicon Publishers.