A new publication from the national institutes for occupational health in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden reveals an increase in sick leave in the Nordic countries. Sweden and Norway record the highest increases. However, there are a number of common factors among all the countries.
The report, Sick leave in the Nordic countries (Sygefravær i Norden ), August 2003, compares sick leave in four Nordic countries: Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. It gives an overview of the main causes for sick leave and focuses on the relation between the working environment and absenteeism. The report concludes, however, that further research is needed as the national statistics and studies are not always directly comparable.
Costs
By the late 1990s, sick leave had increased to 8% of all working days in Sweden and Norway. This is significantly higher than in the other Nordic countries. Denmark has also experienced a steady rise in sick leave (4-5% of all working days).
Sick leave has become an increasing economic burden in all the Nordic countries. Though the figures are not directly comparable in terms of financing, regulation and registration, the study finds that, since the late 1980s, expenses have increased more in Sweden and Norway than in the other countries. The total expenditure on sickness benefit in 2002 was estimated at €5.4 billion in Norway and €4.2 billion in Sweden. Expenditure related to sick leave in Denmark was estimated at €4.16 billion in 2001.
Common causes
A number of common causes emerge among the Nordic countries. These concern issues such as the relation between sick leave and gender, age and sector. Men take fewer sick days than women, and the rate of absenteeism is higher among senior employees.
The study also shows that psychological causes represent a growing share of total sick leave in the Nordic countries. For instance, in Sweden, approximately one quarter of long-term sick leave periods are related to psychological factors whereas in Denmark the equivalent figure is 15%.
Variation by sector
The level of sick leave varies according to the sector. For instance, employees in the health care sector tend to have a high rate of sick leave whereas employees in agriculture have very low rates. In relation to this, the report refers to an Icelandic study, which shows that 72% of employees in agriculture are never absent from their work. On the other hand, only 24% of the employees in health care record no sick days.
Another tendency is that 20-40% of all employees account for 80% of the total absence while an equivalent proportion of employees is never absent. As an example, the Annual Labour Market Report (2003; pdf file) from the Danish Employers’ Confederation (Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening , DA) shows that, in Denmark, one third of all employees in the private sector account for 80% of the total absence. Equally, one third of all employees are never absent.
Reducing sick leave
Although the relation between the working environment, health and absence is complex, the study estimates that working environment factors can account for approximately one third of sick leave. Psychological, social and ergonomic conditions and indoor climate constitute the main explanatory factors.
Hence, the potential exists to reduce sick leave by improving the working environment. Among other things, experience shows that adjusting work demands to match employee resources can reduce rates of absenteeism.
Report available online
The publication Sick leave in the Nordic countries (2003) is written in Danish with a short English summary. It is available at the website of the National Institute of Occupational Health in Denmark (Arbejdsmiljøinstituttet , AMI).