Development of model of workers´ mental processes related to absence norm as behavior rule in agent-based simulation

Absenteeism at work adversely affects performance in organizations, and is reportedly complex. Absenteeism is not only a behavior caused by an individual´s characteristics, but also a system behavior of organizations, as implied in the notions of absence culture and absence norm. In this paper, it is suggested that the use of agent-based modeling and simulation can be an effective way to study mechanisms of absenteeism. To develop an agent-based simulation, a model of workers´ mental processes related to the absence norm-which can be used as behavior rules of agents-is suggested. Finally, results of the simulation with the base model are introduced, and the interplay between the absence norm and absence rate in organizations, as well as the assimilation of workers´ perceptions, is discussed.