July is the month most South African employees take sick leave due to influenza, a study released on Thursday showed.
The study of 7 000 employees by Corporate Absenteeism Management Solutions (Cams) shows that flu absenteeism hits companies the hardest in the winter months of May, June and July.
”The overall absenteeism rate due to flu much higher over these three months than at any other time of the year,” said Cams chief executive Johnny Johnson.
The study found that about one-third of all sick absenteeism in South African companies could be attributed to influenza and upper respiratory infections, including bronchitis, every year.
”Twenty-eight percent of South Africa’s workforce who were sick in 2006 took time off because of flu and respiratory illnesses. This figure remains fairly constant in the 30% range, year-on-year,” Johnson said. ”We also know that the average incident of flu lasts about two days.”
The absenteeism data was collected from sick certificates issued by doctors in more than 60 South African companies. — Sapa