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Johannesburg - Flu and respiratory illnesses are costing SA companies R2.7bn a year, said the absenteeism statistics company CAM Solutions on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Johnny Johnson said absenteeism due to flu and respiratory illnesses was having a considerable impact at the workplace.
He said the direct cost was considerable, bearing in mind that employers would still have additional costs such as paying for replacement workers.
Johnson however said statistics showed that absenteeism at the workplace had stabilised over the past three years.
He said a sample of 100 000 SA workers in 2005 showed that 14.2% of absenteeism was due to respiratory illness and flu related, while a sample in 2006 was pegged at 12.8%.
Johnson said in 2007, the figure stood at 14.1% showing that respiratory and flu related illnesses had stabilised.
Johnson said last year respiratory and flu illnesses beat lower back pain as the number one cause of sick absenteeism in the work place.
"Although it is mostly the very old and very young who are seriously affected by the flu virus, in this sample, however, the age group taking the most sick absenteeism incidents due to respiratory illness and flu are those who are 31 - 40 years of age," Johnson said.
Johnson attributed the stability of absenteeism to the introduction of flu vaccines and an increase in healthier lifestyles.
He advised employers to invest in keeping their workforce healthy through wellness programmes.
- SAPA