The Saint Lucia Employers’ Federation is taking decisive steps to investigate potential abuses of sick leave claims amid growing apprehension from businesses and employers.
Jerome Jules, Executive Director of the Federation, has highlighted the pressing need for action to tackle this issue head-on.
Despite lacking concrete evidence of sick leave misuse, Jules asserts a shared belief within the Federation that such abuses exist to some degree.
Calls for collaboration
Jules emphasized the importance of further scrutiny and collaboration among employers to address this concern effectively.
The Federation is gearing up to convene a consultation session where detailed data will be shared with members to chart a suitable course of action.
Financial implications
Paul Kallicharan, a Statistician at the National Insurance Corporation (NIC), echoed the worries expressed by business owners regarding the financial fallout of sick leave abuses.
Kallicharan highlighted the strains faced by employers when forced to manage absent employees, such as the need to find replacements or cover the costs of extended sick leave.
Surging claims
Kallicharan disclosed that sick leave claims have surged nearly twofold since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbating the financial pressures on businesses.
He noted that a significant portion of these claims emanates from the hospitality industry and government administration sectors.
Data collection and analysis
In response to these mounting concerns, concerted efforts will be made to collect and analyze data to substantiate claims of sick leave abuse in Saint Lucia.
This proactive approach aims to arm organizations with the necessary evidence to effectively combat the issue at hand.
