Page 30 - DRG HR HANDBOOK- Nikita Pillay

ABSENTEEISM

AND DESERTION

ABSENTEEISM

Absenteeism is when an employee is habitually absent
from work.
Typically, absenteeism refers to a frequent lack of
attendance—rather than authorised absences or
irregular, unavoidable issues, such as sickness.

An employer should track staff attendance and keep an
eye on repeated absence from work.
Regardless of the reason, employees are not entitled
to be absent without leave from work or from their
workstations, during working hours. The Company’s
disciplinary code provides for severe disciplinary action
where employees infringe this policy.

Where an employee is absent unexpectedly for reasons
of ill health or unavoidable reasons, the employee must
complete a leave form on his first day of return to work
and submit it to his senior, immediately. Management
may ratify the absence should circumstance merit it
and if acceptable proof of the reason for the absence is
submitted by the employee.

However, in all cases of such absence, the employee/
his immediate family member is required to contact the
company to convey such information.

Staff need to call in on the day of absence, to provide
the reason for the absence and the expected duration of
the absence.

In this regard, should an employee fail to speak directly
to his line report, the employee will be held responsible
should a message not reach his line report.

Any absence from work without authority or good cause
will result in the employee not being entitled to any
remuneration for the period of absence.
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The employee will also not be entitled to payment