List of Nursery Schools Included in the Research
Denmark
School 1 DK
Børnehave Vinkelhuse (Børnehave Vinkelhuse Nursery School) Englandsvej 299
2770 Kastrup +45 32 51 00 80
Supervisor: Lise-Lotte Edvardsen e-mail: bhvinkelhuse@mail.tele.dk
School 2 DK
Vestre Bygade Børnehave (Vestere Bygade Nursery School) Vestre Bygade 31
2770 Kastrup +45 32 50 95 05
Supervisor: Sanne Sandbye
e-mail: vestrebygadebh@mail.tele.dk
Sweden
School 1 SE
Hästhages förskola (Hästhagen Nursery School) Erik Dahlbergsgatan 29
+46 40-97 47 65
Supervisor: Anna Lundström, 0709-34 18 10 e-mail: anna.lundström@malmo.se
School 2 SE
Ribersborgs förskola (Ribersborg Nursery School) Erikstorpsgatan 21
+46 40 9172 03
Appendix 2
Checklist Nursery School Supervision
Checklist Nursery School Supervision
Nursery School: ___________________________ Date: __________________________ Name interviewee: _________________________ Age: ____ Sex: ____ Function: _______________ Tenure: _____ Contact information: __________________________________________________________
1. How would you describe the nursery school? - Size
- Neighbourhood - Public/private - Etc.
2. What are the school’s/organizational policies towards absenteeism?
- Policies aimed at raising absenteeism barriers
- Policies aimed at matching workload and personal capacities - Policies aimed at preventing accidents at the workplace - Policies aimed at improving reintegration
3. What actions does the organization take in case of frequent absenteeism? - Absenteeism is monitored
- Consultation with employee
(Malmö or Copenhagen)
- Is there strong emphasis on absenteeism prevention 5. What action is currently taken to prevent absenteeism?
- In the region (Malmö or Copenhagen) - At the nursery school
- Employee involvement/participation
Appendix 3
Checklist Nursery School Teachers
Checklist Nursery School Teachers
Nursery School: ___________________________ Date: __________________________ Name interviewee: _________________________ Age: ____ Sex: ____ Function: _______________ Tenure: _____ Contact information: __________________________________________________________
8. What do you like about your job?
- Job expectations - Work environment - Work tasks
9. What do you dislike about your job?
- Job expectations - Work environment - Work tasks
10. Is your job important to you? Why/why not?
11. What are you expected to do at work? Are tasks clearly/vaguely defined? 12. Do you think the workload is appropriate?
13. Do you feel appreciated at work?
- Supervisor - Colleagues
14. Do you feel that you can influence your work?
- Influence in decision making and planning activities - Supervisor’s openness to suggestions
- Democratic decision making process 15. Does you think that your job include enough variation?
16. How would you describe your relationship with your colleagues?
17. Are you aware of the national policy towards absenteeism in you country?
- Financial consequences (waiting days/compensation) - Physician consultation (5 working days SE)
- Reward and incentives systems
18. Are you aware of the organizational policy towards absenteeism at your workplace? - Policies aimed at raising absenteeism barriers
- Policies aimed at matching workload and personal capacities - Policies aimed at preventing accidents at the workplace - Policies aimed at improving reintegration
19. How do you perceive these policies? a) The national policy?
b) The nursery school’s/organizational policy? 20. What are the consequences if you are being absent frequently?
- Absenteeism is monitored - Consultation with supervisor
Denmark Sweden Level
National Labour Law No explicit labour law Extensive labour law
limited employment protection extensive employment protection
Sickness benefit system Moderately generous Very generous
sickness system generosity index score 103 (OECD) sickness system generosity index score 130 (OECD)
Characteristics sickness
benefits
Replacement rate: 100% Replacement rate: 80%
Number of waiting days: 0 Number of waiting days: 1
Physician certification after: 10 working days Physician certification after: 5 working days
Organization al
Profile of nursery school
No official profiles Strong emphasis on health and wellbeing of staff and pupils
no health profiles numerous health profiles
informal action plans formal action plans
Absenteeism barriers Similar actions are taken in case of (frequent) absenteeism Similar actions are taken in case of (frequent) absenteeism
absenteeism is monitored absenteeism is monitored
absenteeism reported to the municipalities absenteeism is reported to the municipalities consultation with supervisor after 6 absence spells same and consultation when > 28 days absent
Matching workload No official policies No official policies
covering-up for colleagues is more common in Denmark
Accident prevention Similar Similar only more formal and explicit
Absenteeism prevention no emphasis strong emphasis on absenteeism prevention (gym card)
free gym cards, stop smoking incentives, healthy food
Reintegration policies Keeping in contact with absentee A formal reintegration plan must be constructed
work related absenteeism: psychologist feel good
Availability substitute
teachers
Full time employed substitute teacher Limited number of contracted substitute hours
Denmark Sweden
Individual Job evaluation Positive Positive
positive job characteristics
working with children working with children
close relation with colleagues close relation with colleagues
flexibility, freedom in planning, and outdoor activities flexibility, freedom in planning, and outdoor activities
negative job characteristics
amount of administrative tasks amount of administrative tasks
physical environment stressful and loud environment due to large groups
Job expectations Matching Matching
Importance of having a job
Job is perceived as more important than in Sweden Important
social aspects of the job social aspects of the job
financial reason financial reason
Clarity of tasks Clearly defined Clearly defined
Workload Appropriate and suitable Not appropriate, much too high
Appreciation Generally feels appreciated Generally feels very appreciated
Influence on decision making
Much influence, open communication Much influence, open communication
Variation in job Plenty of variation Less variation on the job is perceived in Sweden
less in case of absenteeism (extra activities cancelled) less in case of absenteeism (extra activities cancelled)
Relation with colleagues
Good and open communication Good and open communication
Awareness national policies
Generally aware Generally aware
Awareness
organizational policies
Not aware Not aware
Perception national policies
Very positive Negative
Fair Unfair
Perception
organizational policies
Positive (when aware) Consequences of
absenteeism
Aware Aware
consultation with supervisor consultation supervisor
can be laid-of
Individual Absenteeism recording Is recorded Is recorded Involvement of
company physician
Limited awareness of municipal psychologist Limited awareness of 'Feel Good'
negative perception of 'Feel Good'
Availability substitutes Hard to find suitable substitutes Hard to find suitable substitutes
situation is reasonable at the moment situation is reasonable at the moment
