Many managers are ill-equipped to handle an employee who is visibly unwell, repeatedly absent, or deteriorating over time. The instinct may be to manage the situation through the performance or disciplinary route.
A recent tragic incident at a Johannesburg workplace has renewed attention on how illness is managed in South African workplaces, highlighting the potential human and legal consequences when processes and communication break down.
For both employers and employees, handling illness at work remains one of the most sensitive areas of employment relations, with experts warning that misunderstandings can quickly escalate into serious disputes or worse outcomes, according to The Sunday Independent.
Workforce Healthcare, an occupational health and wellness provider, is urging both parties to familiarise themselves with their rights and responsibilities before crises arise.
Dr Robin George, senior occupational medicine practitioner and national operations manager at Workforce Healthcare, said communication failures are common when employees become ill.
