Sick leave on the rise in Belgium

New data from HR service provider Securex reveals that in the first half of this year, nearly 9% of Belgian employees were absent on a typical day due to illness or injury. A study conducted by IDEWE, a workplace prevention service, and HR company Acerta points to mental health and musculoskeletal issues as the primary drivers behind this rise in absenteeism.

Securex reports record levels for both mid-term absenteeism (one month to one year of sick leave) and long-term absenteeism (more than one year). Mid-term absenteeism now sits at 2.53% of expected workdays, while long-term absenteeism has reached 3.36%.

The data shows a significant increase in absenteeism among younger workers and manual workers. For employees aged 25 to 34, mid-term absenteeism rose by a quarter between the first halves of 2022 and 2024, with long-term absenteeism in that age group increasing by over 40%. 

These percentages reflect a sharp increase, especially in long-term absenteeism. However, it’s worth noting that sick leave rates among adolescents have traditionally been very low. Thus, even a slight increase results in large percentage shifts.

Sedentary life and mental health

Securex suggests that the physical and mental health of younger employees may be particularly affected by a sedentary lifestyle, exacerbated by high screen time and reliance on smartphones. “Younger employees spend more time using digital technology and tend to move less than their older colleagues, impacting their physical and mental health,” the report notes.

IDEWE and Acerta agree, pointing to musculoskeletal problems as the leading cause of long-term absenteeism (30%) in data spanning from 2018 to 2022. Mental health issues account for 21% of cases. 

IDEWE CEO and occupational health professor Lode Godderis identifies three main factors behind the rise in long-term sick leave: ageing, which raises the risk of chronic health issues; an increase in mental health challenges; and lifestyle factors, such as smoking or obesity, that heighten the likelihood of chronic illnesses. 

Securex’s findings are based on wage data from 164,781 employees in 2024, while IDEWE and Acerta analyzed information from 54,440 employees over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022.

^{© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}