The 2010 Soccer World Cup will probably cost companies R750-million in worker absenteeism, a report said on Wednesday.
It is predicted that at least one in three South African employees will take time off — disguised as sick leave — to watch soccer, according to the report by absentee management company AIC Insurance.
The figures are based on similar results in England at the time of the previous Soccer World Cup, said AIC chief executive Johnny Johnson.
”Large sporting events contribute significantly to the rate of absenteeism,” he said. ”Soccer fever will hit South Africa in 2010. South African employees will either attend the matches, watch the games in pubs and taverns, or stay home to catch the action on their TVs.”
Johnson said employers need to start managing their sick-leave procedures if they want to counter abuse.
”Unplanned absenteeism has the highest impact on business. It is essential to convert this to planned leave, which is much more economical,” he said.
Johnson said research by Barclaycard in the United Kingdom found that as many as six million workers would call in sick rather than risk missing Soccer World Cup matches.
”In the survey, 40% of respondents admitted they called in sick if their working hours clashed with England matches.”
The R12-billion-a-year absenteeism costs in the South African economy are expected to rise to R15,3-billion by 2010.
It will cost R780-million more if, as expected, one in three workers takes a day off during the event — increasing the average sick days taken from the present 6,5 days a year to 6,833 days.
”The real costs relating to absenteeism are often underestimated,” Johnson said, adding that the indirect costs could exceed the direct costs by as much as 200%.
Johnson said that companies need to start planning for soccer fever well in advance.
”Anticipate the important matches, such as when South Africa will be playing, and let employees know that should they wish to watch the match, they will be required to take annual leave.
”Another way to manage the absenteeism and boost morale would be to allow all employees to watch the match at work, so that a whole day’s leave is not required. Management flexibility is key here.”
If Bafana Bafana progress through the tournament, the team could be taking part in as many as seven televised matches.
”This equates to a lot of time off per employee and it will be costly if they are abusing their sick leave.” — Sapa