One in ten workers in Belgium admit to taking time off work for no reason, a report has found.
HR company SD Worx interviewed over 1,000 Belgian workers as part of a study into absenteeism.
They found that while four in ten employees said their teams faced challenges because of absenteeism, many weren’t averse to taking the odd sick day themselves.
The figure was higher (13%) for smaller businesses that for large organisations of more than 250 employees (8%). It also differs by sector. For example, the figure is twice as high in industry and construction: one in five (20%) say they are sometimes absent from work for no good reason.
Fewer workers in the training, professional, scientific and technical services and healthcare sectors reported taking unexplained absences (6 to 7%).
A change in the law
At present, an unwell employee is not expected to provide a medical certificate for the first day of their absence due to sickness up to three times per calendar year.
A new law which will come into force on 1 January 2026, aims to reduce this to twice per calendar year. Three quarters of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are happy that the medical certificate requirement will be reduced to two days.
Jordane Houdart, SME Legal Consultant at SD Worx, said: "The planned reduction to a maximum of two uncertified absences per year is supported by the majority of SMEs. Unexpected absences due to illness quickly make themselves felt in the workplace.
"Almost one in seven SMEs (14%) find one-day absences the most problematic. Many consider Mondays to be the most difficult day, followed by Fridays, but the majority find absences complicated regardless of the day of the week.
"Workers also confirm that their own teams are experiencing problems due to absenteeism. But that doesn't change the fact that, on average, one worker in ten admits to sometimes being absent for no reason."
