The Association of Employee's Unmet Social Needs and Self-Reported Injury and Illness Related Absenteeism.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the extent to which various unmet social needs (USN) are associated with self-reported injury and illness-related absenteeism (SRIRA).
Methods: The analysis consisted of a retrospective study design of secondary data. Linear regression was used to measure the 2022 association between six measures of USN (both individual and a summary measure) and SRIRA.
Results: A greater number of USN is associated with higher SRIRA (b = 0.71, P < 0.001). Self-reported challenges in caregiving, food, healthcare, housing, transportation, and utilities are also individually significantly associated with higher SRIRA.
Conclusions: Employers may consider providing comprehensive resource support as part of their strategy to aid in reducing USN and their association with SRIRA.
Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: B.S.: “Merck—advisory board”; “Pacira—consulting”; “Twin Health—consulting”; “Pittsburgh Business Group on Health—consulting for health equity”; “National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions—payment for conference travel expenses”; “Compass Pathways—advisory board”; “US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevention Research Center” Emily Stiehl: “US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Prevention Research Center U48DP006392”; “US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Total Worker Health, Center for Healthy Work U19 OH011232”; “Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership”; “Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.”
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