1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,360 Speaker 1: Sick leave. Would it surprised you to learn averages now 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,880 Speaker 1: six point seven days per employee per year. A couple 3 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: of years ago it was just five point five. It's 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: costing US four point two billion dollars a year. Catherine 5 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: Richard's Business New Zealand's Boston is with us. Good morning, 6 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Good morning. So when we deal with these numbers, are 7 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: they sick or are they slack? 8 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 2: It's possibly a combination. There are many drivers for absence, 9 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 2: non work related illness, caring for a family member. But 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: employers did report that some people are taking paid leave 11 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 2: when they're suspected for not being actually unwell. But that's 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 2: always been the case when we've had humans in the mix. 13 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, is it part of a malaise in this country? 14 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: If we're all in a bit of a funky you're 15 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: more likely to go you know what. I can't be bothered, 16 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: especially given it's a Monday. 17 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 2: The combination there certainly has been a change in the 18 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 2: workplace culture, and in some cases employees are doing exactly 19 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 2: what they've been told to do. If you're unwell, don't 20 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: come to work and splutter it all over your colleagues. 21 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 2: But with their rise and leave entitlements. We do think 22 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 2: that it's reflected in the jump in the average absence 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 2: of six point seven days per employee per year, and 24 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 2: that's a big jump since twenty twelve when it was 25 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: about four point two. That has a material impact on 26 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 2: the economy and of course productivity of not just businesses 27 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 2: but the whole economy. 28 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 1: Did the five to ten days sickly by law cause 29 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: a problem. 30 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 2: It's meant that in some cases the extra days are 31 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: meeting the needs of workers because, particularly with an aging 32 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 2: population and caring for dependent family members, people have been 33 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 2: able to take leave for that. But it's certainly has 34 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 2: contributed to an increase in the average amount of leave taken. 35 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: But post COVID people really think about their wellness and 36 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: they're less likely to soldier on the cold lad. They're 37 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 2: more likely to think, am I'm going to be productive? 38 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: If not, I'm going to stay home? Yeah? 39 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 1: Because here's the problem when you site look, it's four 40 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: point two billion dollars worth of damage to the economy. 41 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 1: That's fine, but you can't what do you do about it? 42 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: There's nothing you can do about it, is there? Unless 43 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: unless you're going around knocking on the door and going 44 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: right prove it. 45 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 2: It's very hard to measure and so in terms of 46 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: evidence of people pulling sickies, it's always anecdotal. But it's 47 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 2: up to leadership in businesses. Businesses want to have a 48 00:02:30,360 --> 00:02:33,119 Speaker 2: healthy workplace. They want people to come along to work 49 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 2: and be satisfied and be productive. So it's a combination 50 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,560 Speaker 2: also of what businesses are doing to keep people well. 51 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:43,520 Speaker 2: And businesses are very innovative these days. They've got programs 52 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:48,960 Speaker 2: from vaccinations to fitness programs, gym memberships, a whole range 53 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 2: of things. Working from home and additional flexibility has improved retention. 54 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:58,639 Speaker 2: But it's a combination leadership and also reminding people that 55 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 2: they're there is an ambition for all of us to 56 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 2: keep the economy going and make sure our business. 57 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: Is thriven and do Catherine appreciate it. Business New Zealand CEO. 58 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: There's a warning in Britain, speaking of which this morning, 59 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 1: the number of second disabled people has increased eight hundred 60 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: thousand in the last year and it's a crisis. For 61 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks. 62 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast 63 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.