AUTOFORUM

Cough syrup can cost you your job

Jul 25, 2023 MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, Martlé Keyter, Labour Appeal Court (LAC)

Cough syrup can cost you your job

Be careful of the cough syrup you use this flu season. Especially if your employer has a zero-tolerance policy regarding being under the influence of alcohol during working hours.

A member of the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) was lucky to escape dismissal after he tested positive for alcohol. His blood alcohol level was 0.07 g of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood after taking a cough syrup that had no disclosure of its content. Martlé Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, warns MISA members to always ask the pharmacist if a cough syrup contains alcohol if there is no label disclosing the content of the coughing syrup.

“Check the label before you buy medicine. If you consult a doctor or a pharmacist, bring it to their attention if you have a zero-tolerance policy at work. Rather be safe than sorry,” says Keyter. According to Keyter an employee could face dismissal if, based on the evidence provided, found guilty of being under the influence of alcohol after using a cough syrup.

“In this case the member was aware that the employer implemented an SOP (standard operating procedure), prohibiting employees to report for work after using certain cough syrups that contain 18% alcohol,” says Keyter. Anel Oosthuizen, one of the Senior Labour Advisors, got the member off the hook with seven days’ suspension and a written warning, after she assisted him to prepare his case. He convinced the presiding officer that he took exceptional care to avoid a cough syrup containing alcohol.

“It would take heavens to show how much I appreciate your assistance and kindness. God keep you well and healthy together with your family,” the grateful breadwinner text messaged Oosthuizen after receiving his sanction. He also thanked MISA for saving his job. “Keep on doing the good job and God bless you all.”

Keyter warns not everyone will be as lucky as this member, hence employees must act responsible at all times.

According to the member, he came down with a severe flu, but did not have R400 to pay a doctor for a consultation in the village where he stays. “We no longer have a clinic. After paying the doctor, I still need to pay for the prescription and that is a lot of money.” He discussed his predicament with his manager and they agreed that he would take annual leave for a week to recover.

He used one of the prohibited cough medicines while at home. He stopped using the cough syrup containing alcohol more than 24 hours prior returning to work. He was under the impression that “Die Mengsel” did not contain any alcohol. According to a pharmacist, who does not want to be named, non-alcohol cough syrup is used to loosen mucus. “When the cough becomes more severe, the patient develops symptoms of bronchitis. This is when you require a stronger cough syrup. Unfortunately, a lot of these syrups contain alcohol as preservative,” he explained.

He confirmed that cough syrup could have a more severe impact on the blood alcohol level than for example one beer or a glass of wine, which is the known norm if you don’t want to exceed the alcohol limit of 0,05 g of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. (1 unit of alcohol is equivalent to 0,02 g blood alcohol). A glass (150ml) of wine is equivalent to 2 units and a beer is equivalent to 1,5 units or possibly more.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) warned that Influenza A(H3N2), A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza B are common seasonal influenza strains in humans. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, which is sometimes incorrectly referred to as “swine flu”, has been circulating again this season since its emergence in 2009. The NICD don’t want the term “swine flu” to be used as it causes unnecessary panic. The clinical course of infection and management of this strain is similar to other influenza strains. One of the symptoms of the Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strain is a prolonged cough.

Keyter says MISA believes in educating its members about possible consequences. “Prevention is always better than cure,” she says.