RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLE CLARITY

An extremely important component in any sickness absence/performance management programme is the task of establishing role clarity. This prevents misunderstandings and frustrations due to mismatched expectations. This section describes the main role players, and their key functions.

Role Clarity - The Employees:

Employees are obliged, by their employment contracts, to provide services to a minimum standard. This is their responsibility. Should they be unable to provide these services for whatever reason, including medical reasons, it remains their obligation to rectify the reasons for this. It is never the responsibility of the company or of the doctor to ensure the optimum health of the employee - their responsibilities are described below. Within the context of sickness absence, it is also the responsibility of the employees to make use of their sickness benefits judiciously and responsibly. They are required to function within the requirements of company policy, such as timeous communication of absence when it occurs.

Role Clarity - The Employer

The employer is contracted to pay for the services rendered by the employees and to manage the company effectively so as to ensure a satisfactory profit. In this way, all employees benefit from a stable and prosperous working environment. The employer is obliged to make available certain entitlements such as sick leave, and negotiable benefits such as pension fund, medical aid, etc. The employer should also provide a clear company policy on issues relevant to performance appraisal. The employer should communicate performance, especially under-performance, very clearly. Hence, should an employee be unable to render services effectively, it is incumbent upon the employer to notify the employee accordingly and to make available reasonable assistance so that the employee is able to address the problem. In the case of sickness absence, this "assistance" could be in various forms, such as medical aid (co-funded by the company) or authorised leave of absence from work (paid or unpaid). Some companies even offer the services of an on-site medical clinic.

Role Clarity - The Medical Team

The medical team’s role is to assist the employee to maintain optimal health and, where appropriate or possible, to offer treatment. Where necessary, this may include referral to appropriate service providers, or interaction with these providers on the employee’s behalf. Where work factors play a role in the illness, the medical staff must interact with management to seek an optimal solution for the problem. The responsibility to ensure the optimal health (or treatment) of the employee is not the responsibility of the medical team. This remains with the employee. Should the services of the employee’s medical attendant not solve the problem, the employee should address this him/herself. Should the employee require the assistance of the company’s medical staff in this regard, he or she should be encouraged to do so. In summary, the company medical team’s role is supervisory and supportive.