The report by absentee management company AIC Insurance, predicted that at least one in three South African employees would take time off - disguised as sick leave - to watch soccer.

"Soccer fever will hit South Africa in 2010. South African employees will either attend the matches; watch the games in pubs and taverns or stay home to catch the action on their TVs."

"Unplanned absenteeism has the highest impact on business. It is essential to convert this to planned leave, which is much more economical," he said.

Johnson said research in Britain found that as many as six million workers would call in sick, rather than risk missing England World Cup soccer matches.

It would cost R780m more if, as expected, one in three workers took a day off during the event - increasing the average sick days taken from the present 6,5 days a year to 6,833 days.

"The real costs relating to absenteeism are often underestimated," Johnson said, adding that the indirect costs could exceed the direct costs by as much as 200 percent.

"Anticipate the important matches, such as when South Africa will be playing, and let employees know that should they wish to watch the match, they will be required to take annual leave. Another way to manage the absenteeism and boost morale would be to allow all employees to watch the match at work, so that a whole day's leave is not required.

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