Winter is here and so is the sickie

Almost 40% of South Africans plan to pull a sickie in June or July‚ according to a survey by pharmaceuticals company Pharma Dynamics.

The company surveyed more than 1 500 working South Africans across the country about how they’re gearing up for the colds and flu season‚ which also revealed when they are most likely to call in sick when they just can’t face a day in the office.

“A combination of miserable weather and the spate of colds and flu to be expected in winter most likely makes June and July the most popular months of the year to take a duvet day‚” said Pharma Dynamics spokesperson Nicole Jennings.

“Nearly a third of those polled admitted that they’ve pulled a sickie before – 45% of whom said they do so two to three times a year‚ while a few chancers (15% in fact) do so even more often.

The 40% whose conscience probably gets the better of them can only bring themselves to do so once annually.”

The survey also discovered that more than 51 percent of employees pulling this‚ rope in their partners and children to join them‚ 20% either didn’t have a partner or a child‚ which implied that if they did‚ they’d probably get them to bunk with them too. The remaining 29% preferred to do so solo‚” notes Jennings.

According to the survey‚ 78% of people used a cold or flu as an excuse for not coming to work.

Other excuses included personal reasons‚ home emergencies‚ stress‚ transport‚ oversleeping‚ a forgotten appointment and a hangover.

Findings also showed that more than 46% of South Africans are taking precautions in the form of a daily immune booster or vitamin-enriched tablet to keep colds and flu at bay.

Jennings recommends taking a supplement that contains vitamin C‚ Echinacea and zinc‚ which in combination has been proven to strengthen the immune system. “Vitamin C concentrations in the body tend to decline as a result of stress and/or infection and since it isn’t produced by the body‚ it needs constant replenishing via food sources.

However‚ in our rushed day and age‚ it may not be practical for most people to consume the required servings of fruit and vegetables needed on a consistent basis‚ whereas taking a once-daily supplement is safe‚ effective and easy to do.

Both zinc and Echinacea increases the number of white blood cells‚ which fight infections and reduce the chances of catching a cold.

Therefore‚ all three nutrients play a vital role in combatting colds and flu‚” she explains. As for this year’s colds and flu season‚ SA should brace itself for possibly more severe outbreaks should warmer than usual temperatures persist this winter.