Australian bosses are gearing up for a record number of workers to take sick leave in the coming month as Covid and the flu spread across the country.
Employers are already grappling with hollowed-out rosters as the highly contagious Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 are fueling a spate of new infections and hospitalizations across the country.
Absenteeism due to illness is 50 percent above average and absenteeism due to fever and cough is five times higher than last year.
Hospitals are also inundated with admissions that have jumped by more than 1,000 to 4,000 in the past 10 days.
But experts say the worst is yet to come – an unprecedented number of sick and caregivers are expected to leave by August due to the late season of influenza B and skyrocketing Covid cases.
Former Deputy Federal Medical Chief Dr. Nick Coatsworth said data from labs in Australia shows that “all the other respiratory viruses came back vengeful.”
“HR departments and industry should look to late August, early September for relief,” Dr. Coatsworth on the… Financial Overview†
“My advice would be to take people out of the workplace for a few days and try to limit the further spread, then have your entire workforce involved.”
Experts predict that workplaces will be rocked by record levels of absenteeism as Covid and the flu wreak havoc across the country. Pictured: Office workers arriving in Sydney CBD in 2019
The grim forecast could spell trouble for an already struggling economy as companies have to work with skeletal workers.
While employers will be powerless to stop thousands of workers entitled to sick leave, others will be left to support workers without benefits after the previous administration ended pandemic payments of $750 for those forced to isolate.
The latest FluTracking data, which monitors respiratory illnesses like the flu and Covid, shows that 2.5 percent of people are out of work, compared to the five-year average of 1.5 percent.
Absenteeism is already 50 percent above average, but is expected to worsen in the coming weeks
However, some industries appear to be more prone to staff shortages, with workplace data showing higher absenteeism in aged care and retail in June.
Nationally, 14.5 percent of aged care services remained unfulfilled, particularly in NSW, where the rate was 36.8 percent.
In terms of retail sales, last month seven percent of store shifts across the country were vacant, with Western Australia having the highest percentage (9.8 percent) closely followed by NSW (8.1 percent).
But forecasts from experts suggest the situation could turn dire in the coming weeks.
In an official statement on Friday, chief health officials warned that if action is not taken, the rise of the two dominant Omicron strains could make the nation’s cases comparable to January’s BA.1 wave – which saw the number of infections in Australia peaked at over 100,000 per day.
Unlike other variants, BA.4 and BA.5 are associated with ‘increased immune escape’, making it easier for those previously infected with previous Covid variants to get it again, which can also be done as early as four weeks after recovery. performance.
Aged care facilities have been particularly hard hit by staff shortages, with more than a third of services in NSW going unmet in June
“People who test positive for Covid more than 28 days after ending isolation due to a previous infection should be reported and treated as new cases,” the statement said.
The warning comes as major business groups are rejecting the advice of state and federal health authorities to consider working from home for fear it will jeopardize the country’s economic recovery.
While the reintroduction of mask mandates and work from home is currently out of the question, state governments have not ruled out those orders being reduced as the winter Covid wave intensifies.
Hybrid models supporting some days in the office and some at home have been rolled out in many workplaces, but some health groups are calling for stricter Covid measures as hospital admissions increase.
Ai Group’s Victorian head Tim Piper said restoring remote working settings would undo the progress many companies have made since employees returned to offices earlier this year.
Health authorities have warned Australia’s Covid cases could reach similar rates during January’s BA.1 wave, with daily cases skyrocketing to more than 100,000
“The suggestion undermines the really good effort that employers and employees have put in since Omicron really hit us in January,” he said. Sydney Morning Herald†
“Revisiting masks in offices would be absolutely counterproductive. It’s the only problem that has prompted people to stay away from work.’
As health authorities try to curb the number of infections from climbing and hospitalizations, a further 7.4 million Australian adults will be eligible for Covid treatments and a fourth vaccine dose as of Monday.
People over 50 are recommended to get the extra chance, while people over 30 are eligible if they wish.
Health Minister Mark Butler announced that Australians over 70 who test positive for the virus will have access to antivirals through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Monday.
Access will also be extended to those over 50 with two or more risk factors for serious illness and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people over 30 with two or more risk factors.
Anyone 18 years of age or older and immunocompromised may also qualify.
Two antivirals are on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule: Lagevrio and Paxlovid. They normally cost over $1000, but they’ll be available Monday for $6.80 for concession card holders and about $40 for everyone else.
A new advertising campaign will also be launched to educate Australians about the availability of treatments.
Australian Health Minister Mark Butler addresses the media at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra
Australians under 65 will not be asked to get fourth Covid shots as there is no evidence they will help, said Health Minister Mark Butler
The Plan For Covid campaign encourages people to test at the first sign of symptoms, talk to their doctor immediately for advice, and seek treatment options.
Mr Butler said hospitals were bracing for increasing cases as winter progresses and especially encouraged younger Australians to get their third booster.
About 2.5 million people in their 30s and 40s have yet to get their third booster, he said.
“I really encourage you to get out and get that (third) dose because that’s the big kicker. That’s the thing that really boosts your immunity against serious illness,” Mr Butler told reporters in Adelaide on Sunday.
“The fourth dose gives you a boost and that boost is important now because of the phase of the pandemic we’re going through, this extra third wave.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that (variants) can evade the immunity you may have gained from having previously had Covid.
“We see that people who may have had Covid only a few weeks ago are being re-infected.”
More than 31,000 new infections and 24 deaths were reported across Australia on Sunday, a slight decrease from the previous 48 hours.
At the end of the weekend, 4,094 Australians were hospitalized, with rising flu numbers adding further pressure on healthcare staff.