Lowest December absenteeism rate in four years, total absences remain virtually the same in 2024

Lowest absenteeism rate in four years

With an average absenteeism rate of 4.8%, December had the lowest ‘December absenteeism’ in four years. In previous years, the absenteeism rate was higher in the last month of the year: 5.2% in 2023, 5.1% in 2022 and 4.9% in 2021. Compared to 2023, there were fewer sick days taken due to flu-like symptoms last December. This was unexpected, as absence due to flu-like symptoms normally rises in December – despite the Christmas holidays.

No outliers so far this flu season

Nevertheless, the flu season – which roughly coincides with the eight months containing an ‘r’ – is well underway. After a solid start at the beginning of autumn, the flu season has so far progressed without any major fluctuations. “The most notable month was September, when there were 67% more sick reports than the previous month. October also saw more absenteeism due to flu-like symptoms, but in November and December it remained stable,” explains Redmer van Wijngaarden, Occupational Physician and Director of Medical Affairs at ArboNed. “Due to flu-like symptoms, there is more short-term absenteeism during this season than in the rest of the year, but we have not seen any outliers here since September. This means the expectation is that the peak in absenteeism due to flu-like symptoms is yet to come.”

Absenteeism in 2024 virtually the same

At 4.7%, the average absenteeism rate in 2024 was virtually the same as in 2023. The slight decline that the occupational health and safety service providers saw in 2023 did not continue last year. Van Wijngaarden: “Although employees called in sick less often on average last year, absences lasted slightly longer on average.” Absenteeism was highest in the healthcare and manufacturing sectors.