Health and work: a study on absenteeism in supermakets in Marabá

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze sickness-related absenteeism in a supermarket chain located in Marabá, in the northern region of Brazil. Absenteeism was understood as the worker’s absence due to health, organizational, or personal factors. The research adopted a documentary approach, using records from the company’s Human Resources department covering the period from January 2022 to January 2025. A total of 296 medical certificates were examined, accounting for 2,876 days of absence. The data revealed a predominance of absences in the operational sector, followed by the front-of-store and administrative sectors, with a notable prevalence of female workers. The main medicais diagnoses were related to musculoskeletal disorders, fractures, respiratory infections, and reproductive health conditions such as maternity leave and high-risk pregnancy supervision. Most employees on leave had completed secondary education, with some variation in the operational sector. Conducting this study in Brazil’s North region highlights the importance of expanding occupational health research in underrepresented contexts, contributing to more inclusive public policies and organizational practices. Despite the advances provided by the research, some limitations must be acknowledged. The analysis was restricted to available documentary data, which may have limited the understanding of subjective and contextual factors influencing absenteeism, such as organizational climate, emotional strain, and perceptions of well-being. Furthermore, the absence of interviews or questionnaires applied directly to employees prevented a deeper exploration of personal and organizational aspects. Future studies are encouraged to incorporate complementary approaches to broaden the understanding of health-related absenteeism in the retail sector.