Absenteeism in the Netherlands rises to highest level in years, driven by stress and flu

The average sickness absence rate increased to 4.7 percent last month, compared to 4.4 percent in August, the highest level recorded in years, according to occupational health services ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare.

According to the occupational health services, sick reports surged in September, rising 72 percent from August. The number of cases climbed from 36 to 62 per thousand employees, largely driven by flu-like illnesses.

“The rise in absenteeism is clearly continuing this autumn,” the organizations reported. Occupational health providers observe that stress-related issues are accounting for a growing portion of long-term absences. “Employees affected by these issues are typically unable to work fully for over eight months, and those suffering from burnout often remain out even longer.”

Over the past three years, the average length of absenteeism has risen from 23.8 days to 27.6 days. In 2024, 8% of all sick reports lasted longer than six weeks, yet this small group accounted for as much as 75% of all absenteeism days. Stress-related absenteeism is particularly on the rise: 7% higher than in 2023 and even 36% higher than five years ago.

ArboNed emphasizes that prevention is crucial, particularly early recognition of signs of overstrain. “Employers can make a significant difference by checking in regularly on employees’ well-being, addressing workload issues openly, and offering flexibility in tasks or scheduling when necessary.”

The estimated cost per sick employee ranges from approximately €250 to €400 per day. Seasonal factors and extra sick days are expected to have cost the Dutch economy more than 1 billion euros in 2024, resulting from approximately 3 million additional days of absenteeism.