Absence from work sees first major fall in 25 years
Absenteeism fell significantly in 2025, the first such decline in 25 years, according to a study published on Friday by HR service provider Securex. It attributes the decrease to a new attendance policy.
On an average working day in 2025, 8.09 per cent of employees in Belgium were absent due to illness, compared with a record high of 8.49 per cent the previous year.
Medium-term absenteeism – between one month and one year – fell the most: from 2.58 per cent of employees to 2.30 per cent. However, absences of up to one month also fell, from 2.58 per cent to 2.43. Long-term absences of over a year remained at a “historically high” level of 3.35 per cent, according to Securex’s calculations based on a sample of 22,583 employers and 188,857 employees.
Securex says the decline in medium-term absenteeism coincides with the new summons policy that was introduced in 2024 and fully implemented in 2025.
This strengthens the support provided by an employer’s medical adviser and return-to-work coordinator, who contact employees on sick leave earlier and more frequently to explore the possibilities for a suitable return to work.
“In practice, we are seeing that the follow-up of absent employees is faster and more targeted,” Securex said in a press release. “Employees feel better informed and supported, while employers and line managers are thinking more actively about reintegration options.”
The decline in absenteeism is more pronounced among manual workers than office staff, which may be explained by the different nature of the health issues that generally affect the two groups.
"Employees feel better informed and supported, while employers and line managers are thinking more actively about reintegration options"
“Among manual workers, the causes are more often physical in nature, whereas among office staff, they are more often due to psychosocial issues,” said Gianinna Ng, medical director at mutual insurance fund Partenamut.
“Physical conditions often offer a more predictable path to recovery and are better understood than psychosocial conditions. The threshold for returning to work with the same employer on a part-time basis is therefore potentially lower than in the case of work-related psychosocial conditions, such as burnout.”
The federal government will launch a pilot project by the end of the year allowing employees at risk of long-term illness to temporarily reduce their hours while receiving a supplementary benefit. The aim is to prevent people from dropping out of the workforce entirely.
© PHOTO IMAGEBROKER
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