In 2012, employers have stated that the cost of absenteeism was about RM100,000 per day and the additional costs of replacing absent workers and the total lost due to sick leave stands at RM9 billion or 1 percent of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of RM850 billion. In 2013, it was RM8.22 billion. That is certainly a huge significant cost on the economy.  

But it does not reflect the true picture.

According to the labour laws, an employee is eligible for 14 days of sick leave annually,  if has been employed for less than two years; 14 days, if between two to five years; and 22 days  if he or she has worked in the same company for five years. Employers are thus mandated by law to make provisions for the above contingency if the employee takes sick leave that he is entitled to.

But the figures for 2013 as revealed by the Malaysian Employers Federation show that the average Malaysian employee only took an average of 10 days leave, which is 50 percent less than what the employee is eligible for.

Employees not taking their eligible sick leave should be rewarded. Many employees feel that being industrious is not being appreciated or being rewarded by the company. The annual medical certificate (MC) entitlement is ‘burnt’ if not taken. Thus the employees resort to ‘dubious’ ways to obtain MCs.

Instead of looking elsewhere, employers should be looking within the working environment. A good working environment with a caring employer providing job satisfaction and happiness with a reasonable salary along with adequate intensives and promotions, will certainly curtail employees from ‘feigning’ illnesses to obtain MCs. Some companies go to the extent of arm-twisting doctors not to issue MCs even when it is warranted.

Loyalty will be of prime importance to the employee if he is looked after well. Many employers seem to be missing this point and lose out in the long run.

A happy workforce is of prime importance to the employer. Extra money spent on wages and allowances on keeping the workforce happy and contented will certainly be recouped easily when productivity is increased. It will certainly curtail the ‘ingenious’ practices of seeking MCs to ‘escape’ pressures from work.

The increase in emoluments and allowances to employees will certainly be only a fraction of almost the RM10 billion lost due to absenteeism as claimed. A reasonable increase in wages will certainly multiply the income generated for the company.

Imposing stiff working conditions, lack of time with family or opportunities to interact with family and friends will certainly force ‘employees’ to seek ways to absent themselves from work. A happy workforce will keep a loyal and hardworking work force

DR NKS THARMASEELAN is president, Malaysian Medical Association.