BUSINESS CYCLES AND WORK ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS FOR SICK LEAVE IN SWEDEN - A case study on consultants in the IT sector

Abstract

Purpose: This case study allows us to explore and investigate the reasons behind an increasing sick-leave ratio in a concrete field and country which are IT and Sweden. Sick leave has been continuously studied in the public sector, but little research has been done in the private sector, and even less in the IT field. Therefore, to improve our knowledge about the reasons behind the increasing sick-leave, our purpose in this study is to investigate the IT consultants’ and IT managers’1 perceptions. Theory: In order to fulfil the purpose of the case study, two different theories will be used to shape the upcoming results. One will be focused in the economic spectrum with a more business-oriented approach, while the other relies in the sociological and psychological side. With the combination of both theories, we are aiming to give strength to the upcoming results and moreover. Method: This master thesis draws on a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The qualitative part is the base of our results and the quantitative data is used as a support for the economic theory and the study. The data IT Managers: When talking about IT Managers, those can be also work as IT consultants. The definition of IT Manager is made as some managers were also named Project Managers or Business Area Managers. Since all of them work in the IT field we therefore called them IT Managers.