Stress-related absenteeism is affecting more people and is lasting longer
At an average of 4.7%, the total absenteeism rate in the period from July 2023 to June 2024 was slightly higher than the previous year (4.6%). The healthcare, manufacturing and transport & storage sectors saw the highest absenteeism: 6.2%, 5.6% and 5.4% respectively. Although there are several causes, the reasons behind one in four sick leave days are stress-related symptoms. An increasing number of people were affected by these symptoms last year, and employees were also absent slightly longer on average as a result. In this regard, the longer it takes for stress symptoms to be identified and addressed, the longer people stay absent. The duration of sick leave due to stress-related symptoms is an average of 245 days and can even reach up to more than 300 days, or ten months.
Troubling Increase: 30% in five years
Absenteeism due to stress-related symptoms accounts for an increasing proportion of the total absenteeism rate. ‘We have observed absenteeism due to these symptoms increasing year on year,’ explains Jurriaan Penders, Occupational Physician and Director of Medical Affairs at HumanCapitalCare. ‘On an annual basis, that increase is already substantial. If we look at the trend over the past five years, it is absolutely troubling.’ Figures from ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare show that over the last five years, absenteeism due to stress-related symptoms has risen by as much as 30%. Penders: ‘This kind of an increase could ultimately pose a risk to continuity in the Dutch working population, the labour market and society in general. The cause of stress can be related to a variety of factors at work, in private life and in society. We spend a lot of time treating and counselling people who have taken sick leave due to these symptoms. However, more is needed to overcome the trend, such as early detection of symptoms and taking action sooner.’
Recognising stress early on
There are a number of factors that you can use to recognise symptoms caused by stress, which in turn increase the risk of absenteeism. Often, it starts with symptoms of tension, such as worrying, listlessness and tenseness. ‘These symptoms do get recognised after the fact by the employee, the manager or their colleagues. But even if the signs are recognised earlier on, they are not always discussed,’ Penders said. ‘That’s a pity, because it is in that early phase in particular that you can often make small adjustments to ensure that the symptoms do not get worse and perhaps even prevent someone from needing to take sick leave at all.’ To ensure that employees and employers can better recognise stress, HumanTotalCare is working together with Amsterdam UMC and other partners on the DESTRESS programme (part of the National Science Agenda). Ultimately, solutions for early recognition like this are expected to help allow employees and employers to work together to take action against stress-related symptoms to prevent people from being absent.
Higher Likelihood of Relapse after Stress-related Absence
Part of the solution also lies in a continued focus on employees who have previously suffered a long-term stress-related absence. In fact, research conducted by HumanTotalCare and Amsterdam UMC shows that 1 in 7 of these employees return to long-term disability within three years. This usually happens within one year of a full return to work. Penders: ‘When an employee is back at work, over time the focus on the problems and their causes often also wanes. But it is important to stay on top of this. How is someone doing? Are you picking up on any signs that things aren’t going quite as well? Are there any temporary adjustments needed in tasks or working hours? It may sounds simple, but it can make a big difference.’