Profile of an absentee, General Tire, Logansport, Indiana

Abstract

General Tire employs an average of six hundred hourly workers at the Logansport facility. The salts of the firm and number of employees fluctuates with the trends of the automotive industry. The result is variations in the number of employees and the product nix required. At Logansport the work involves the preparation and assembly of original equipment parts for the automotive industry. The tasks are divided into the production of two product lines: suspension bushings, called "silentbloc" bushings, and automotive window trim assemblies called weatherstrip. Approximately 80 percent of the production jobs are filled by women. A major problem with General Tire is absenteeism, which can run as high as 15 percent in some departments on some days.Logansport has a population of approximately 20,000 and services an area with a population of over 50,000. The 'area has several small and medium size firms. General Tire ranks as one of the highest paying companies, especially for women, in non-skilled jobs. In addition, the fringe benefit package includes liberal health care coverage for dependents.General Tire in Logansport has a responsive management to new ideas who welcome information and changes that will benefit the company and the employees. From the results of the research study, it is hoped that managers will be better able to choose employees and control the absenteeism of the work force. In addition, trends and findings disclosed from the study caw be used to support or negate theories concerning the causes of absenteeism.