From this article you will learn:
- what are the most common causes of absenteeism,
- what are the market trends, forecasts and trends,
- how to counteract absenteeism,
- How to support employees wisely and in the long term.
In an article on employee health (which you will find HERE) we pointed out that Each percentage of sick leave corresponds to a loss of 0.7 per cent of the company's profit [1]. In addition, this issue negatively affects the morale of the team, the atmosphere in the company and, finally, the efficiency of work. However, it is worth remembering that sick leave is not the only reason for absenteeism. Although, in fact, the most dominant.
What are the most common real reasons for absenteeism?
- Mental and physical health
From the moment our article on counteracting sick leave was created, it is difficult to talk about major changes in trends. In the initial period of 2023 the number of redundancies related to respiratory diseases (by 5.7 percentage points) and mental disorders (slightly, by 0.1 percentage points) increased (compared to 2022), while the number of L4 related to pregnancy, childbirth and childbirth decreased (by 2.2 percentage points) [2]. However, it is difficult to talk about a constant trend.
Unfortunately, data on this type of absenteeism are often distorted due to abuses committed by employees themselves. They admit to them... as much as 1/3 of the employed. 28% of those who declared this behavior justified it by not wanting to work on a given day, 24% needed a day of relaxation, and 18% simply had to get enough sleep. [3]
Not always, of course, such absenteeism is due to laziness. A day of relaxation or sleep can be a response to an earlier overload of duties beyond measure, and a lack of desire to work - to a bad atmosphere in the office. The explanation that puts the blame on the employees is simply too limited here and in the long run can lead to an outflow of talent from the company.
- Care of children/family members
The second most common reason for absenteeism is related to child care. Poles have holidays here: maternal, parental, educational and paternal. Employers must also take into account exemption for caring for a healthy child (2 days a year) whether exemption for illness of a child up to the age of 14.
- Holiday Vacations
This is another possible cause of absenteeism. As it turns out Polish employees bet on longer vacations, used in one term. This trend affects more than half of them. Most often they implement them in July or August (75% of holidaymakers) [4].
- Other causes
The Labor Code also allows other reasons for absenteeism, e.g. call to the army or by state institutions, family matters (e.g. funerals of loved ones), but also random events. However, this is a margin of exemption. In their case, it is also difficult to make any predictions or constructive conclusions.
How to remedy absenteeism?
- Sick absence
First of all, it is worth determining whether the company... has such a problem at all. In this case, the natural values for the office environment are between 0.1% and 1% (these “ranges” may vary slightly, depending, for example, on seasons of natural decline in immunity) [5].
However, even in this case, it is worth taking care of the health of employees. Then, on the one hand, we act preventively, on the other — image-wise as a company that cares about the well-being of its team.
How to support employees?

Benefits to improve the use of primary care An example of this is the platform Telemedia, facilitating quick access to medical advice, including obtaining an e-prescription or referral to a specialist as part of an online consultation. Appointments for diagnosticians are available here even an hour after the need is reported. Thanks to this solution, we not only take care of the health of employees, but also make a visit to the doctor not require several hours of absence from work.

Benefits of Diagnostics — good health is constantly keeping your hand on the pulse. It is worth supporting employees in this by offering them laboratory test packages (you can find them, among others, within MultiLife). In addition, this type of benefit can be supported by internal company actions, paying attention to the need for regular surveys. These types of “Health Days” perform not only a preventive function, but also an integrative one.

Sports benefits The Benefit Systems report from 2022 shows that almost half (47%) of Polish employees expect support in terms of physical activity from their employers [6]. We are dealing here with a win-win situation, because for the employer it is a de facto investment in lower sick leave. In addition to the sports card, it is worth sharing with your staff consultations with a personal trainer and nutritionist, or a variety of courses that allow you to build and keep fit. This type of solution is also offered by MultiLife.

Mental Health Benefits Mental health problems have an increasing impact on sick leave. At the same time, as the aforementioned Benefit Systems report proves, as many as 48% of employees are in favor of psychological support from the company. The same study reveals that 43% of them put relaxation courses/workshops high on the list of desired benefits. This type of solution is also provided by MultiLife. Employees will find here, among others, breathing courses, yoga or mindfulness, as well as useful applications for taking care of the psyche — e.g. Focusly.

The right infrastructure — quiet work rooms, relaxation rooms, indoor yoga rooms — all this makes it easier for employees to take care of their mental and physical health even after returning to the offices.
- Fake sick leave
We are talking about the aforementioned situations in which the employer has reasonable suspicions that a large part of the dismissals are de facto responsible for reasons other than the actual illness - such as: fatigue, stress or bad atmosphere at work.
Partially the solutions may be similar as above — adequate infrastructure or taking care of psychophysical well-being. In addition, it is also worth rethink the processes and the workload of individuals. On the plus side, any initiatives that promote integration can particularly work, which you will read more about in the article”Teams together again”.
- Custodial Absence
On 26 April 2023, an amendment to the Labour Code came into force, implementing the EU Work-Life Balance Directive in Poland (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 641). This law, among others extends parental leave for fathers by an additional nine weeks [7].
Although some employers approach these regulations with a great deal of caution — in practice it is an excellent solution to activate all employees — in particular women, who are most often burdened by childcare leave.
- Holiday Vacations
For 81 percent. For Poles, a good holiday is key to maintaining job satisfaction. Meanwhile, as many as one in five admit that they have had to shorten their vacation at the request of their employer [8]. It is worth remembering that an adequate dose of rest is in the interests of both employees and employers. A tired team will always work inefficiently, and the moods of overworked people will negatively affect the image of the company and the opinion about it.
As you can see, absenteeism is not always a cause for concern. The most important thing is to keep the right proportions in everything - both the accumulation of holidays and the numerous L4, mean that it is worth thinking about schedules, processes, as well as benefits.
Bibliography:
- situ https://www.pulshr.pl/rynek-zdrowia/jak-ograniczyc-absencje-chorobowa-pracownikow-oto-wskazowki,69152.html.
- situ https://www.prawo.pl/kadry/ile-dni-spedzilismy-na-zwolnieniach-lekarskich-w-pierwszych,520757.html.
- situ https://porady.pracuj.pl/zycie-zawodowe/top-5-wymowek-z-powodu-ktorych-nie-mozesz-przyjsc-do-pracy/.
- situ https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/8434251,urlop-praca-zadowolenie-badanie.html.
- situ https://conperio.pl/jakie-sa-typy-absencji/.
- Benefit Systems report “Tired, indifferent, unengaged. Post-Pandemic Employee Needs” from 2022.
- situ https://www.prawo.pl/kadry/ojcowie-i-matki-o-nowym-porzadku-urlopow,521191.html.
- situ https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/8434251,urlop-praca-zadowolenie-badanie.html.