Date of Conferral
9-30-2026
Date of Award
September 2026
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Jorge Gaytan
Abstract
Failure to reduce employee absenteeism remains a significant concern for small business leaders. Without clear and actionable strategies, these leaders may struggle to avoid decreased revenue. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project was to identify and explore effective strategies small business leaders use to reduce employee absenteeism to avoid decreased revenue. Participants included seven small business leaders located in the Southern United States who had used effective strategies to reduce employee absenteeism to avoid decreased revenue. Data were collected from semistructured interviews and publicly available documentation. Three themes emerged from thematic analysis: (a) supportive leadership practices reduced employee absenteeism, (b) flexible scheduling and work-life balance encouraged employee attendance, and (c) human capital management promoted consistent employee attendance. A key recommendation for small business leaders is to highlight management practices that foster a supportive environment where employees feel respected, valued, and encouraged to communicate attendance concerns proactively. Potential implications for positive social change include small business leaders cultivating workplace environments that encourage consistent employee attendance, positioning employees to maintain consistent income, support their families, and contribute to the economic vitality of their local communities.
Recommended Citation
Simington, Dawn Eugenia, "Strategies Small Business Leaders Use to Reduce Employee Absenteeism and Improve Productivity" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20846.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20846
