Dutch workplace sickness absence rises to 4.9% in September

Workplace sickness absence in the Netherlands rose to 4.9% in September, up from 4.6% in August and 4.7% a year earlier, according to occupational health services HumanCapitalCare and ArboNed, which together support nearly one million employees.

The number of sickness reports also increased, from 39 to 58 per 1,000 employees — a rise of 49%. Iris Homeijer, a company doctor and medical director at HumanCapitalCare, said the increase was consistent with the usual pattern after the summer holiday.

The rise was particularly marked in education: September saw almost one and a half times as many sickness reports as June, the last month before the summer break, the services said.

Homeijer said the figures did not reflect an expected drop in colds and flu-like complaints during September’s warm weather. The report does not give a breakdown of the causes of the absences.