Sick leave of more than 30 days increased by 33% between September 2019 and August 2020, compared to the previous year. Their average duration is 94 days.
- Long-term stoppages increased by 33% between September 20198 and August 2020
- The share of psychological disorders as a reason for these stops is increasingly important
There were fewer work stoppages, but they were longer. A IFOP survey for Malakoff Humanis, published Monday, November 16, shows a 33% increase in long-term sick leave between September 2019 and August 2020, compared to the previous 12 months. A sick leave is said to be of long duration when it is equal to or greater than 30 days. This study focused only on employees in the private sector: it was carried out by telephone between August 24 and September 24. 405 managers and 2,008 employees were questioned.
Long stoppages often related to work
On average, these long sick leaves lasted 94 days. 44% of the employees concerned are at least 50 years old, 32% are between 35 and 49 years old and 24% between 18 and 34 years old. 45% of the employees concerned believe that the cause of their stoppage was professional. The main reason is an accident or trauma, followed by musculoskeletal disorders.
What are the causes of these sick leaves?
Of all the work stoppages studied in this study, the first cause is “ordinary disease“, this means that the employee is unable to perform his work, but does not suffer from a serious illness. Musculoskeletal disorders represent 17% of work stoppages and the share of psychological disorders is 15%. These The latter are increasingly important: at the beginning of 2020, 9% of employees were arrested for psychological disorders, during confinement, this rate rose to 14% then to 18% during deconfinement.
What impact of Covid-19 on the health of employees?
It is likely that employees suffered psychologically from the consequences of the Covid-19 epidemic. As Véronique Pogu, a work psychologist, explains to Release : “Employees are very afraid of losing their job or are strongly affected by partial unemployment during the crisis“Telework, implemented urgently during the first confinement, and the absence of social relations may also have contributed to this psychological malaise. Covid-19 represents only 6% of sick leave. The survey, however, excluded from its count the sick leaves issued to vulnerable people or for childcare during the first confinement.
Our latest barometer shows a significant increase in#absenteeism long term. What are the consequences for companies and what actions have they taken to deal with them? Focus on the main lessons.
— Malakoff Humanis (@MalakoffHumanis) November 16, 2020
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