Belgian Employees Miss Less Work in 2023: Study on Absenteeism and Productivity

In 2023, employees in Belgium were absent less often compared to previous years, according to a recent study by HR services company Acerta. The study found that employees worked an average of 83.3 percent of the time, equivalent to 208 days per year for a full-time employee. This attendance rate represents an increase of 0.8 percentage points from 2022 and is the highest recorded figure in the past five years.

Data from approximately 390,000 employees at 30,000 private sector companies was used to reach this conclusion. The study considered absences due to sick leave, temporary unemployment, career breaks, and holidays.

Sickness absence remained the primary reason for employees being absent from work, with an average of 7.9 percent of working hours (equivalent to around 20 days in a working year) lost due to illness in 2023. Interestingly, absenteeism due to illness was found to be higher in larger companies compared to smaller ones. Companies with more than 500 employees reported an absence rate of 9.9 percent, which is double that of the smallest employers at 5 percent.

Dirk Vanderhoydonck from Acerta Consult highlighted the importance of reducing absenteeism due to illness as it significantly impacts productivity. He emphasized the need for companies to address this issue, especially in the current labor shortage scenario.

Overall, the study’s findings suggest a positive trend in employee attendance in Belgium in 2023. However, the significant number of lost working days due to illness remains a concern for companies aiming to enhance their productivity levels. Efforts to minimize sickness absence could help organizations maximize their workforce availability and efficiency.