Doctor’s Notes for Sale

Over the next 5 weeks, national pride is set to reach record highs. So, it appears, are doctors’ appointment books and sales of Benylin. In the final lead-up to the World Cup, South Africans are full of gees and excitement! However, according to a recent study, the population will also be coming down with a bad bout of “the flu”.

Independent Research agency Freshly Ground Insights conducted research into how people planned on getting out of work to go to the games. The research was conducted across South Africa, amongst 950 people representing a cross-section of the population. Respondents were asked what excuse they would use if their companies had refused to give them time off to go to the games.

Not surprisingly, 45% of the sample said that they would claim to be sick; with some proudly asserting that they would buy a sick note. 13% said they would pretend to have a family emergency, while a ruthless 5% said they would claim to have a death in the family. One man said that he would claim that his son had been burnt by an iron (a true “Father of the Year” candidate).

13% said they would sell or give away their tickets to games as they had to go to work, while 7% said they would go anyway and deal with the consequences later. 2% of the sample was so eager to be involved that they were willing to quit their jobs if permission was not granted to go the games.

“I’m suffering from madness” was a surprising excuse, as was “I would say there is a fire in the house.” One gentleman asserted that he would apply for paternity leave (babies can be so convenient); while a few people said they would claim to be in hospital. Let’s hope, for their sake, that they aren’t captured by the TV Crew, Makarapa on head and Vuvuzela in hand.

Ke Nako! We can feel it – it certainly is here! And who can blame South Africans for wanting to throw themselves into the melting pot of waving flags and Waka-Waka’s. This is a once in a lifetime for SA, and everyone wants a piece of it.

Oh, and if anyone knows the doctors selling sick notes, let us know, would you? We feel a bad case of the flu coming on . . .

Written by Emma Dicks