Lower paid take more sick leave, statistics show

Lower-income earners take more sick leave than white-collar workers who have higher job satisfaction, statistics compiled from 60 companies have revealed.

Johnny Johnson, chief executive of Corporate Absenteeism Management Solutions (Cams), said on Wednesday: ”Generally, higher absence is positively correlated with lower-income earners, those who have fewer responsibilities and more repetitive, less satisfying work.”

The statistics showed that employees earning R5 000 per month or less have an absenteeism rate of 2,3%.

The rate drops to 1,33% in the group that earns between R10 000 and R15 000 per month.

”Sick absenteeism costs the country about R19-billion per year, so looking after sick employees and managing sick-leave abusers correctly is just good business practice,” he said.

The statistics were recorded in 60 South African companies with more than 7 000 employees over the course of a year. They were derived from medical certificates handed to employers by workers who had been off sick.

Johnson said sick absenteeism should be at about 1,5% — which means in a working year of 250 days per year, the average employee should take 3,75 days off sick.

”Most companies have an overall absenteeism rate of between 3,5% and 6% — way over the acceptable limit,” he said.

The absenteeism rate is calculated by dividing the number of days employees are absent by the number of days they should have been at work over a year.

Johnson suggested that employers use a return-to-work policy, which would reduce sick absenteeism and save companies millions.

Employees who have been off sick should see their supervisors immediately upon returning to work. The supervisor should be genuinely interested in the absent employee, making sure they are fit to return to work. The supervisor should also offer any further assistance needed.

”This would communicate a genuine concern to employees who are sick and might need further medical help,” he said.

— Sapa