What's the number one reason for people calling in sick to work? First off, it's not "goma"! In 2023, it was "Acute upper respiratory infections" , basically a common cold, for which 7,504 cases were reported to Social Security. Second was "Intestinal infectious diseases" - basically bad belly, of which there were 3,688 cases reported to SSB. Third was "Dorsopathies", basically a bad back.

Those are the most common causes submitted to social security for "sickness benefit".

For 2024, it's exactly the same - and today at a media awareness sessions the new Deputy CEO said that when you're sick, sometimes it's best to just go home than to make everyone else get it:

Jerome Palma, Deputy CEO - SSB
"There has to be conversation in promoting wellness in the office space. If people are not feeling well, it may be better that they are out of office to reduce the spread. It's A significant impact and we see most of the claims are coming essentially form things like your common cold, the flu season. Most people are essentially out of work for a few days because of acute upper respiratory infections."

"These are the two main issues, them. And these are wellness things, that we recognize where a safer officer space, a more conscious team can actually support and reduce the need for people out of office, and the need to be paying some of these sickness benefits, right?"

"Most of our people are out of work - temporarily, mind you - because of these issues them."