Do you have employees calling in sick every other day or are mostly taking their sick leaves after or before their day offs. Do you have a feeling that the sick leaves they are taking are not genuine. Don’t Worry you are not alone !! As per the “Workplace Wellness Report 2021” by Southern Cross Health Insurance, the average number of sick days taken by employees in New Zealand in 2020 was 4.2 days.
Sick leaves can be a major issue in running and operations of a business and everyone knows that getting a medical certificate is not that difficult for employees in New Zealand. A lot of small businesses struggle managing their business due to their employees taking unplanned and non-genuine sick leaves.
Not to forget that the employers must always act in good faith of the employees and acknowledge that the employees are entitled to take sick leaves and should be respected and given that entitlement as per the New Zealand Law. There might be employees who are genuinely going through ongoing illness or are taking sick leave due to genuine reasons. It is suggested that you communicate well with employees and plan accordingly so that there is minimal effect on the business and employees can also be supported during that difficult time.
In the event of an absence or a no-show, get in touch with the employee right away to get an explanation. Also, ask them to give you an idea of when they expect to be back at work so you can make necessary plans. Remind them of your workplace's policies and procedures and, if necessary, ask them to bring reasonable proof of their absence when they return to work. Be consistent and ensure that the policy is applied consistently throughout the entire company to every employee and every absence. However, If you have enough evidence and reasons to believe that the employees are taking non genuine sick leaves then here are some ways to manage and reduce their sick leaves. Communication is the main key. Communicating with employees, following up with them after each sick leave is the major key. Contact Us Now so we can help you manage your employees sick leaves.
