This study explores the reasons for chronic teacher absenteeism, which is a growing concern in Michigan schools and districts because teacher absenteeism is expensive and has implications for student learning. In total, 21 elementary teachers from seven different Michigan school districts were interviewed about their experiences with and perceptions of teacher absenteeism. Using an interpretive lens from the management literature on employee absenteeism, this study finds chronically absent teachers used paid time off for job-related mental health more often than for personal reasons compared to non-chronically absent teachers. The contributors to job-related mental health include three elusive, intangible characteristics: job stress, low perceived organizational support, and job dissatisfaction. The sources of job stress, low perceived organizational support, and job dissatisfaction are negative student behaviors, large class sizes, accountability pressures, lack of building support, lack of administration support, increased workload, performing additional duties above and beyond teaching, and not having enough district financial support for classroom materials and resources. The findings suggest organizational factors, or challenges with school and district culture and climate, contribute to chronic teacher absenteeism and must be improved upon. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed, along with opportunities for future research on both chronic teacher absenteeism and the culture and climate of schools and districts.
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