Phony plague costs state R631m
Rapule Tabane
2002-11-14
Public servants who abuse their sick leave to extend their weekends are costing the state millions of rands.
A Public Service Commission report has found that many national and provincial employees are using sick leave as a convenient method to extend their weekends. The study on sick leave was undertaken between 1999 and 2000 and tabled in the Gauteng legislature last week.
It found that in that year public servants had cost the government R631-million in sick leave. In Gauteng the cost of sick leave to the finance department was R29-million in 2000 and about R54-million in 2001.
About 959 950 public servants were surveyed, of which 752 665 are employed at provincial level and 207 285 nationally. About 34% of employees at provincial level and 63% of those in national departments took sick leave.
Public servants at provincial level took on average three days less sick leave than their counterparts at national level.
The illnesses that caused the most absenteeism in the public service were bronchitis (206 219 days), flu (196 940 days) and upper respiratory and related illnesses (141 639 days). Stress was the fourth highest cause of absenteeism.The highest number of days was lost to people in the 30-39 age group.
The report queried information it received from Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, which showed low figures.According to the data, only 2,7% of public servants in the Eastern Cape, 14% of public servants in Limpopo and 14% in Mpumalanga took sick leave, which is at odds with other provinces, which reflect sick leave of between 27% and 90%.
The report recommends that government departments improve their record-keeping. It says: It is possible to monitor sick leave trends in the public service. However, the effectiveness of such monitoring exercises will largely depend on the ability of departments at national and provincial level to keep their sick leave records up to date.
The report notes that the abuse of sick leave in any organisation, including the public service, not only has financial implications; it also has a detrimental effect on the delivery of services.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union said the assumption that most workers were taking their leave to extend their weekends was not unrealistic.
Spokesperson Molantoa Molaba said: This issue would arise with all other big employers, not only government workers. This research will help employers plan better and therefore improve services to citizens.
Source: Rapule Tabane: The Star, 12 November 2002
Public servants who abuse their sick leave to extend their weekends are costing the state millions of
rands.
A Public Service Commission report has found that many national and provincial employees are using sick leave as a convenient method to extend
their weekends. Monday is the day on which most sick leave was taken, the report found.
The study on sick leave was undertaken between 1999 and 2000 and tabled in the Gauteng legislature last week.
It found that in that year public servants had cost the government R631-million in sick leave.
In Gauteng the cost of sick leave to the finance department was R29-million in 2000 and about R54-million in 2001.
As the week progresses, there is a clear decline in the number of incidences of sick leave, the report states.
About 959 950 public servants were surveyed, of which 752 665 are employed at provincial level and 207 285 nationally.
About 34% of employees at provincial level and 63% of those in national departments took sick leave.
Public servants at provincial level took on average three days less sick leave than their counterparts at national level.
The study showed more females took sick leave than males in provincial departments.
This can be attributed to the fact that at provincial level 61,5% of employees are female and only 38,5% are males.
The illnesses that caused the most absenteeism in the public service were bronchitis (206 219 days), flu (196 940 days) and upper respiratory and
related illnesses (141 639 days). Stress was the fourth highest cause of absenteeism.The highest number of days was lost to people in the 30-39 age group.
The report queried information it received from Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, which showed low figures.According to the data, only 2,7% of public servants in the Eastern Cape, 14%
of public servants in Limpopo and 14% in Mpumalanga took sick leave, which is at odds with other provinces, which reflect sick leave of between 27% and
90%.
The report recommends that government departments improve their record-keeping.
It says: It is possible to monitor sick leave trends in the public service. However, the effectiveness of such monitoring exercises will largely depend
on the ability of departments at national and provincial level to keep their sick leave records up to date.
The report notes that the abuse of sick leave in any organisation, including the public service, not only has financial implications; it also
has a detrimental effect on the delivery of services. Democratic Alliance spokesperson Hermene Koorts said public servants were
taking advantage of the fact that they were only expected to submit a medical certificate if they were absent for three days.
She added: They absent themselves for two days in one week and another two in the following week.
In some cases, provinces do not have any benchmarks... until this problem is rectified and patterns of sick leave have been questioned, the employees
will take advantage of the luxury to stay at home at the cost of the taxpayers.
Because they are entitled to 36 days for sick leave with full pay in a three-year cycle, they want to take it despite the fact they are not ill,said Koorts.
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union said the assumption that most workers were taking their leave to extend their weekends was
"not unrealistic". Spokesperson Molantoa Molaba said: This issue would arise with all other big employers, not only government workers. We support all... strategies to improve attendance at work.
This research will help employers plan better and therefore improve services to citizens.
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