Employees with chronic health conditions are often seen as a liability to a company, but it’s the bellyache and bronchitis brigade that employers should really worry about, according to research released on Wednesday.
An analysis of sick notes found that workers with chronic conditions such as diabetes or depression are often seen as a drain on medical aid, but they can be more cost-efficient and productive than their colleagues with no long-term health problems.
The analysis, done by Lekana Employee Benefit Solutions, found that when it comes to lost productivity and sick-pay losses, the workers who regularly cry off with flu, back pain and gastric disorders are the real drain on the bottom line, not those on chronic medication.
The study found that a worker with a chronic condition will present sick notes less often and have a better work-attendance record than ”slick sick-note operators” who come down with hard-to-disprove ailments.
Topping the sickie list are respiratory-tract conditions such as bronchitis, sinusitis and flu, as well as back pain.
The study found that malingerers will report a respiratory problem during flu season and back pain once flu is ”out of season”.
The third most frequently mentioned conditions are diarrhoea and stomach problems, with these three ailments mentioned on 75% of sick notes.
Paid sick leave attributable to chronic conditions is ”minuscule in comparison”, the company said.
”The high-frequency sick-note generators overwhelmingly fall into the backache, bellyache and flu category. Those on chronic medication manage the condition surprisingly well and maintain a good work record. They are more productive and cost-efficient than they are given credit for. They are not a net drain but a net gain,” the company said. — Sapa