1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: The key is here calling in sick more than ever, 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:05,800 Speaker 1: businesses are feeling it. We're now averaging six point seven 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: six days a year. That is up from five and 4 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: a half in twenty twenty two. This has come from 5 00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: a Business New Zealand and Southern Cross report. They blame 6 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: labour twenty twenty one move doubling the sick leave and 7 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: tarament from five to ten days. You'll remember that Alan 8 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: McDonald's with us from the Employees Manufacturer's Association. Nolan good morning. 9 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: Morning, right. 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: So is that how material is that to a business's costs? 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 3: Well, every day you're not working and you're paying somebody 12 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 3: for it, obviously that is a cost and that's a 13 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 3: bit of lost productivity. 14 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: But I mean the flip side is that I think 15 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 2: most employers. 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 3: Realize and manage their workforces because it's better perhaps to 17 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:52,199 Speaker 3: not have them there rather than coming and infecting other 18 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 3: people with stuff, which is what the change was made 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 3: for in the first place under COVID. 20 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: But I think still applies with everything else that's around 21 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 2: as well. 22 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: What are people saying when they you know, what's the 23 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: excuse when they call in sack these days? That do 24 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: people say, I'm just I need the day off that 25 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: they say I'm sick. Do they say I'm taking a 26 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: personal day. 27 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 3: It's generally genuine sickness, and I think most employers do 28 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 3: accept that that is the case. So, you know, I 29 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 3: think at the old days of malingerers, if you liked, 30 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 3: you don't see much of that. There's always some of 31 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 3: that though, but it's a very small proportion. 32 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: So this increase is actually just better reflecting how sick 33 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: we do get in your average year. 34 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it better reflects the understanding in the 35 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 3: workplace that you know, people do get sick, they are 36 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 3: genuine about it, and it's better to haven't managed and 37 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 3: have them in the workplace. But do remember there's a 38 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 3: change coming for part time workers as well, that that 39 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 3: ten days. 40 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: Entitlement is going with. And you leave that book and Alden's. 41 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: Bringing in really interesting stuff. Ellen, thank you for the 42 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 1: Alan McDonald the Employees and Manufacturers Association. 43 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 3: For more from early edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live 44 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,920 Speaker 3: to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or 45 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 3: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.