Dear Reader

I was having a quick look at News24 this morning before I started work, and it was no surprise to me to see a labour story making headlines. It was all about how much sick leave cost the police force in 2009...a whopping R550 million! That’s a lot of zeroes in tax money.

Now, I know, and agree, that sick leave is a statutory right, and it’s not a negative thing if employees take sick leave...if they’re sick. The problem comes in when they use it as an extension of annual leave and they're actually perfectly capable of working - but just doesn't feel like going to work that day.

I’m sure this has happened in your company.  And unless you’re a very large corporation, it’s unlikely to have cost you over R500m. But everything’s relative, and the thousands you’re potentially losing through sick leave abuse will severely impact your bottom line.

How to get sick leave abuse under control

One of the first ways is to make it clear when you’ll grant sick leave...have a look at the advice our expert gave this subscriber:

Can I refuse to grant sick leave?

Question

My employee took sick leave to go to the dentist and has now applied for another day to go back to the dentist. She has confirmed her appointment for the extra day, but we are going to be extremely short-staffed if she’s not at work.

Can I refuse to grant her sick leave day and insist she move the appointment?

Answer

Paid sick leave only applies when an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury. You don’t have to grant sick leave when she wants to go to a doctor's appointment but is, in fact, not incapacitated from working.

Inform your employee of the situations in which she’s entitled to take sick leave and tell her that she mustn’t schedule doctor's appointments, unless unavoidable, during working hours. If she wants to schedule a doctor's appointment during working hours, she must get your permission before confirming the appointment.

HR alert – 1 in every 4 of your employees will quit this year

It can cost you between one and six times an employee’s annual salary to re-recruit if he quits! Can you afford to let this happen? Do what you can to hang on to the ones you’ve got. 

Our HR gurus give you invaluable tips and advice on how to effectively manage, motivate and reward your employees and avoid those common HR problems.  Subscribe to The Practical Guide to Human Resources Management now and become the manager that every employee wants to work his hardest for! You’re the one who’ll benefit.

Until next time...

Sarah-Jane Bosch
Managing Editor
Labour Law for Managers and Practical Guide to Human Resources Management

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