Dealing with serial ‘sickies’ in your construction business
So an employee keeps calling in sick – what can you do?
The classic ‘sickie’. It’s part of New Zealand working folklore, and while most people can honestly admit to ‘chucking’ the occasional sickie, others can stretch the limits of their employers by frequently taking sick days for vague or elusive reasons. In some cases it can get to the point where they are no longer reliably showing up to work.
Sick leave is a legitimate entitlement, and many people genuinely need that time to manage their health or chronic conditions — both mental and physical. In those cases employees should be fully supported via the applicable employment entitlements.
BUT WHAT IF YOU SUSPECT AN EMPLOYEE IS MISUSING THEIR SICK LEAVE?
Statistics from the Wellness in the Workplace Report conducted by BusinessNZ found that an absent employee typically costs their employer $600 to $1,000 per year, and ‘sickies’ typically account for 303,000 lost days of work each year.
Sick leave misuse can become a serious business issue if left unchecked. Let’s take a look at Sick Leave, and what you can do to make sure it’s being used properly.
