Employers are bracing for record sick leave over the next month, with absences already running at 50 per cent above average levels, as the highly contagious BA.4 and BA.5 variants drive a new wave of infections and hospitalisation.
Sick leave from fever and coughs is already five times last year’s levels, with the latest FluTracking data showing 2.25 per cent of people off work from sickness, compared with the five-year average of 1.5 per cent. The data tracks people sick from respiratory illness such as influenza and COVID-19.
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Tom Burton has held senior editorial and publishing roles with The Mandarin, The Sydney Morning Herald and as Canberra bureau chief for The Australian Financial Review. He has won three Walkley awards. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.burton@afr.com
Tess Bennett is a technology reporter with The Australian Financial Review, based in the Brisbane newsroom. She was previously the work & careers reporter. Connect with Tess on Twitter. Email Tess at tess.bennett@afr.com
