Ageing workforces, greater recognition of mental health disorders (particularly among younger workers), and repercussions from the Covid-19 pandemic are being blamed for worsening employee sick leave across much of Europe.
Norway is struggling the most, where the amount of sick days being taken every year equates to almost 28 days for every worker – double the OECD level. Critics are blaming an extremely generous welfare system, where in most cases employees receive their full salary paid for a year off-sick.
As staff absentee numbers increase around Europe, so too do economic costs for governments often grappling with poor growth and weighty debts, as well as affecting the earnings of those not in work – further damaging the economy in a dangerous spiral.
Politicians are looking at options to try and reverse the trend, particularly France where the national auditor has proposed ending sick pay for absences of less than eight days – a saving of €470 million a year.
