The trend has been confirmed since the end of the covid wave: absenteeism increased again in 2022. According to the annual study* by the WTW consultancy, it stands at a rate of 5.3% compared to 4.9% in 2021 (i.e. +9.2%) and 3.9% in 2019.
Specifically, 42% of employees were detained for at least one day during the year, compared to 34% in 2021.
The phenomenon affects more sectors and more categories of employees, underlines the study. In particular, “computer services, financial and insurance companies, as well as managers and intermediate professions (+ 14%), which until then had been saved quite a bit”.
46% of intermediate professions and 30% of managers experienced at least one work stoppage in 2022 (compared to 35% and 23% in 2021).
The first cause is linked to mental health problems.
4% of strikes exceed 90 days while 58% are of very short duration, less than 7 days. “Friday continues to be the most important day of absence, regardless of the socio-professional category or the sector (absenteeism rate of 5.43% compared to 4.98% in 2021)”, specifies the study.
Your engine? New work organizations derived from the pandemic. “Adopted very quickly in companies, they have not received sufficient support for a large part of them: management of teleworking and the right to disconnect, welcoming new employees, support for employees in digital transformation, distance training”, it was stated. read. Young employees are especially affected.
In fact, “absenteeism among employees aged 20-29 and 30-39 has increased considerably, by 15% and 17% respectively between 2021 and 2022”.
“We have been observing a growing phenomenon for several years. In 2022, the Covid continued to generate many absences but the first cause of absenteeism, when we read the Social Security report, is linked to mental health problems, stress and anxiety”. that generate repetitive absences”, explains this Thursday in BFM Business Noémie Marciano, director of WTW France.
“There is a feeling of discomfort that has been accentuated by the covid, teleworking, social isolation or quite the opposite with a strong presenteeism. We have these problems that have multiplied with this covid crisis,” he continues.
Leap in absenteeism among young people aged 20/29
In detail, “96% of stoppages are due to illnesses. Accidents at work, travel and occupational diseases represent only 4% of stoppages, but contribute about 14% of absenteeism, taking into account a duration of absences more than three times greater (67 days compared to 18 days due to illness)”, advances WTW.
Not surprisingly, the transport, construction, health and restaurant sectors are the most affected by occupational accidents, the extractive industry and construction due to occupational diseases.
Workers on short-term contracts are more concerned than their counterparts on permanent contracts, with an absenteeism rate of 5.5% versus 2.5%.
Finally, in terms of geographical distribution, the Grand Est region continues to be the most affected, with an absenteeism rate (6.8%, +9%), ahead of the Hauts de France (absenteeism rate of 6, 4%, +8%). and Burgundy Franche-Comté (5.9%, +7%).
*: The study was carried out among 343,775 employees of 633 private sector companies over a period of 4 years, using data from Nominative Social Declarations (DSN).
Source: BFM TV
