In the public sector, we tend to be on sick leave more frequently than in the private sector. But we are on shorter durations. the annual report of the Ministry of Public Service points out that approximately one out of three civil servants (32% in the State civil service, 35% in the territorial public service and 33% in the public hospital service), compared to 28% of employees in the private sector had at least one sick leave in 2013.
“For seven out of ten employees, absent at least once, in the public service as in the private sector, it is however only a single sick leave in the year”, points out the document, taken up by the AFP.
Another finding is that civil servants stop working for less time than private employees: 52% of civil servants absent at least once due to illness stopped for less than eight days in the year compared to 46% of employees in the private.
Women are more numerous than men, overall, to take sick leave: “37% of women in the public service and 32% of women in the private sector had at least one sick leave during the year, compared to 28% and 27% of men respectively,” the report said.
Too long sick leave
Sick leave is expensive for social security. In 2013, the sum of the daily allowances to be paid for sick leave would have represented a cost of 7 billion euros. Health Insurance announced last June a plan to slow down this increase in daily allowances due to too long sick leaves.
>> To read also: Long-term sick leave increases the risk of unemployment
Sick leave: to be sent within 48 hours, even for civil servants