Employee absenteeism plays a significant role in the economic efficiency of companies. The costs incurred due to absenteeism range from full wage compensation to the hiring of replacement staff and lost revenue. Many companies are not fully aware of the scale of costs caused by illness and the impact of absenteeism. However, addressing this issue involves much more than just imposing sanctions. Disease prevention and thus the avoidance of employee absenteeism is far more important. Often, the reasons for absenteeism are unknown or ignored. Nevertheless, it is precisely the determinants of absenteeism that need to be identified in order to employ appropriate measures. This study focuses on these causes and provides a comprehensive overview of the available tools.