Employees increasingly dropping out due to stress-related complaints
Data from ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare shows a 12 percent rise in stress-related absenteeism among Dutch employees over the last year. Long-term absences represent the bulk of the issue, with stress-related cases and burnouts leading to hundreds of days of lost work.
Recent data from occupational health services ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare reveals a concerning 12 percent increase in stress-related employee absences over the past year. Looking at a five-year window, this figure has surged by 49 percent, affecting over a million workers across the Netherlands. Experts note that while many employee absences remain short-term due to temporary illnesses, the primary challenge lies in long-term absenteeism. Employees falling out due to general stress are absent for an average of 257 days, while those suffering from burnouts can be away for up to 338 days.
According to company doctor Redmer van Wijngaarden, this trend creates significant pressure on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. The small group of long-term cases accounts for 83 percent of all recorded absence days. Addressing this issue requires earlier intervention and a better understanding of the root causes of stress. Employers and employees are urged to collaborate in recognizing warning signs before absenteeism becomes prolonged, as the current situation exacerbates existing personnel shortages and impacts overall workplace productivity.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
