Absenteeism, Incapacity and Disability Management
Absenteeism Management
Our absenteeism management solution is a service that provides professional support for the measurement, monitoring and management of employee absence from work due to illness.
Companies all over the world are challenged by frequent sick leave absences of their employees. The cost of sick absenteeism in South Africa is in excess of R 19 billion per annum. This is money paid to absent employees. In many companies the management of sick absenteeism can mean the difference between bankruptcy and profitability.
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act ensures that all employees are “entitled” to a minimum of 30 days (for a 5 day workweek) and 36 days (for a 6 day workweek) paid sick leave. The Act gives the employer the ability to manage the sick absenteeism in terms of the acceptability of the sick leave notes submitted, and the investigation of frequent absences. However the employer is not allowed to breach medical confidentiality by insisting on receiving a diagnosis on the sick leave note. This makes it difficult to investigate and manage the reasons for the sick leave. Employers can use independent medical professionals to investigate and manage sick leave on their behalf, without breaching medical confidentiality.
Most South African employers have no idea what sick absenteeism is costing them – Do you know the cost to your company? EOH Health will assist you in determining your current cost of sick absenteeism and in managing the cost down to acceptable levels.
Incapacity Management
The Labour Relations Act of 1995 – Code of Good Practice stipulates that an employer has the following obligation in terms of employees that have become incapacitated at work:
The employer has to investigate the incapacity to determine if the incapacity is temporary or permanent, total or partial and whether the employee could potentially be accommodated in another position or by adjusting the function of the employee (reasonable accommodation).
The employer requires expert medical assistance and guidance in order to perform this investigation.
EOH WHW provides a comprehensive, professional incapacity management service that ensures full legal compliance and facilitates early return to work and/or reasonable accommodation of incapacitated employees.
Disease Management
Chronic conditions pose a significant burden on employers as they experience loss of productivity due to absenteeism, presenteeism and short-term disability. Indirect costs include the cost of overtime, health impact on other employees who are stressed by the extra work, and ill employees spending a significant amount of time at work researching and discussing their condition.
Employers are now realising that it is not only important to focus on the traditional health insurance costs, but to also focus on the health status of employees. This is achieved by incorporating wellness programmes and chronic disease management programmes into the workplace environment.
