European International locations With The Longest Sick Depart 

It isn’t information to anybody that European nations usually have higher sick go away insurance policies than the UK, however which of them are infamous for pulling essentially the most sickies?

In 2024, the variety of sick days taken within the UK elevated by over 40% within the final three years, with stress and despair being the most typical causes.

However whereas the UK studies a notable improve in sick go away, a number of different European nations additionally stand out for his or her stage of sick go away absence, whether or not it’s attributable to psychological well being, cold-related diseases or benefiting from beneficiant sick go away insurance policies.

So, let’s check out the nations the place sick days are taken most frequently.

1. Bulgaria, 22.0 days

Bulgaria tops the record for the very best variety of sick days taken in 2024, with a median of twenty-two.0 days per 12 months. 

Bulgaria’s sick go away coverage contains the employer paying 70% of the worker’s wage for the primary two days. From there, the Nationwide Social Safety Institute (NSSI) can pay 80% of the wage, or 90% if it’s a work-related sick go away or harm.

In comparison with the UK, Bulgaria has a a lot decrease value of residing and given that almost all of an worker’s wage is roofed, Bulgarian residents are probably in a position to afford to take extra day off work once they’re unwell.

2. Germany, 18.3 days

Germany is usually well-regarded for its beneficiant sick go away insurance policies, providing healthcare advantages and excessive requirements of work-life stability, making it simpler for workers to prioritise their well being with out jeopardising their careers.

So with these beneficiant office advantages in thoughts, why does Germany have such a excessive variety of sick days?

Based on analysis reported by HR Lab, the widespread chilly was the first explanation for excessive ranges of illness absence in 2023, similar to influenza infections and bronchitis. Excessive circumstances of psychological well being and musculoskeletal points have been additionally reported as nicely, which may presumably hyperlink again to Germany’s present labour scarcity – leading to larger stress ranges and burnout.

3. Czechia, 15.4 days

Czechia follows carefully with 15.4 sick go away days per 12 months. Whereas workers are solely paid 60% of their wage, that is balanced out by being entitled to an extended sick go away interval of as much as 14 days.

Nonetheless, it was additionally ranked one of many worst nations for worker wellbeing by Talint Companions Perception. Most notably, organisational tradition in most Czech firms is taken into account to be formal and structured, with a variety of emphasis on productiveness and maintaining a tally of workers so that they don’t slack off. 

In flip, this could create a high-pressure surroundings that negatively impacts each worker morale and total psychological well being. This, and the nation’s scarcity of psychological well being professionals may doubtlessly be correlated with the excessive variety of sick-related absences.

4. Norway, 14.6 days

Regardless of Norway’s beneficial sick go away coverage – the place 100% of an worker’s wage is roofed for as much as a 12 months – the nation has seen a big variety of sick days taken in 2024.

Whereas it’s tough to pinpoint the precise purpose for this excessive quantity, it could actually boil right down to a few issues.

Rachel Wilson Rugelsjøen, founding father of LEVELUP HR, explains in her LinkedIn weblog that Norway’s beneficiant welfare system can create a way of entitlement amongst workers, who might declare sick go away even once they don’t want it. 

Furthermore, as most Norwegian workplaces wish to preserve peace and unity, managers might really feel afraid to problem absenteeism, that means workers be happy to abuse their sick go away advantages as a lot as they like.

5. Poland, 14.2 days

Working life in Poland is fairly normal. Staff are anticipated to work 40.4 hours per week, usually from 9 to five. Nonetheless, in comparison with different European nations, Poland was ranked second for longest working hours, falling behind Greece with 41 hours per week.

Polish employers are accountable for paying 80% of an worker’s wage for the primary 33 days of illness, which will increase to 100% if the worker falls unwell throughout being pregnant or is concerned in an accident going to or from work. 

That being stated, Poland was listed because the worst nation for worker wellbeing by Talint Companions Perception. Based on Careers in Poland, solely 38% of workers reported low-stress ranges, with the healthcare and life sciences sectors dealing with essentially the most demanding work environments.

The stress from lengthy working hours, coupled with the dearth of satisfactory work-life stability and excessive stress reported by employees could possibly be contributing elements to the quantity of sick days, significantly if most workers are affected by burnout or psychological well being points.

Whereas many European nations supply beneficiant sick go away, the explanations behind the excessive variety of sick days differ. Whether or not it’s reasonably priced sick go away, hectic work environments, or not sufficient psychological well being assist, every nation has its personal elements at play.

In fact, the UK has its personal sick go away issues as nicely, mixed with its unfavourable parental go away insurance policies and lack of worker engagement. However even with beneficiant sick go away insurance policies, different nations are nonetheless combating points like burnout, psychological well being challenges and office stress, which may result in a excessive stage of absenteeism no matter how a lot day off is obtainable.