LAUSR

BACKGROUND Little has been published on predictors of prolonged sick leaves during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine the rate of COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers (HCWs) as well as identify the predictors of longer sick leave days. METHODS We identified predictors of longer sick leave using linear regression analysis in a cross-sectional study design. RESULTS 33% of the total workforce contracted COVID-19. On average, HCWs took 12.5 sick leave days following COVID-19 infection. The regression analysis revealed that older employees, nurses, and those who caught COVID-19 earlier in the pandemic were more likely to take longer sick leave. CONCLUSION Age, job position, and month of infection predicted sick leave duration among HCWs in our sample. Results imply that transmission was most likely community-based. Public health interventions should consider these factors when planning for future pandemics.