This is the post that should have been done yesterday. I know that all of this is hugely out of date, but we all have these problems with staff and it is my recommendation that you contact and/or view the belowmentioned website and get as much information as you can regarding this issue in order to deal with it effectively.

Dealing with excessive sick leave
09 October 2006 at 04h00

Excessive sick leave and incapacity can have a negative effect on productivity, but dealing with these issues effectively can be a tricky business if companies are not properly informed of the legalities. Andrew Breetzke, a specialist in the field of employment and labour law with a particular interest in the fields of incapacity and disability, will address these issues at a workshop on October 27 as part of the University of Cape Town law faculty's Professional Education Project. The course will consider the relevant provisions in SA labour law and clarify the differences between incapacity, chronic ill-health and disability, and their management.

The course is designed for human resources directors, managers and staff, company law advisers and managers who may be called upon to deal with the issue of incapacity and disability in the workplace, as well as insurers. The workshop will deal with employers' responsibilities towards employees suffering from ill-health, and what can be done to prevent the undermining of the business's management caused by the taking of excessive sick leave.

The workshop will explain how companies should go about terminating the employment of someone due to incapacity. Breetzke has acted as a consultant on sick leave to employers and insurers throughout South Africa.The workshop will take place in the Oliver Tambo Moot on the university's middle campus. Closing date for registration is October 20.

Enquiries to Irèna Wasserfall on iwasser@law.uct.ac.za, or call 021 650 5621.