Dutch worker absences due to boredom and low job stimulation rise five-fold
The number of sick leave days linked to bore-out, a work condition caused by prolonged boredom and lack of challenge, has risen sharply in the Netherlands, increasing 5.5 times from 2021 to 2024, according to the occupational health service Arbo Unie. Bore-out reportedly leads to boredom and a significant loss of motivation among workers.
Arbo Unie reports that absenteeism related to this condition tends to peak in the fourth quarter each year. Arbo Unie explained, “We see that companies and organizations, for example in business services, frequently hire young people who, despite good salaries, carry out relatively simple work. When they do this for a long time, the work becomes boring, leading to bore-out.” Absenteeism due to burnout has also increased, but at a much lower rate — 28 percent since 2021.
Despite the rise in sick leave linked to boredom and burnout, overall absenteeism declined in May compared to April. Data from ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare show that in April, 49 out of every 1,000 workers were absent, dropping to 41 per 1,000 in May. The average absenteeism rate fell from 5.5 percent in February to 4.5 percent in May.
HumanCapitalCare attributes this seasonal drop partly to fewer flu cases as summer approaches. “Not only does flu disappear from the picture, but the May vacation and out-of-season employee holidays also fall in this period,” the agency stated.
