For the first time in years, short-term absenteeism is on the decline. This is evident based on SD Worx's analysis of wage data from more than 800,000 employees. In 2023, one in three Belgians (31%) never missed a single day of work due to short- or medium-term illness.
 

Several noteworthy figures:

• For the first time in 10 years, absences of short duration (less than 1 month) have declined in 2023 compared to the previous year. Short-term absenteeism is now at 3.24%.
• Absenteeism for periods between 1 month and 1 year – known as medium-term absenteeism – has increased from 2.95% to 3.04%.
• Absenteeism for periods longer than 1 year is only very slightly higher in 2023 than in 2022: 3.63% (in comparison with 3.61%).
• One in 10 working days is lost due to illness (short-, medium- and long-term).
• For 2023, SD Worx estimates the wage costs for time lost to absenteeism to be €1,528 annually per full-time employee, excluding the employer’s social security contributions.

Bart Teuwen, absenteeism expert at Mensura: "The apparent stagnation of long-term absenteeism may be an optical illusion. The rise in medium-term absenteeism can, in the short-term, reinforce long-term absenteeism. Research shows that after a three-month absence, half of incapacitated workers do not return to their current employer.

Employers would do well to invest in absenteeism prevention while, at the same time, paying plenty of attention to informal reintegration."