Overview
- AXA’s Datascope 2026, released Tuesday, reports absenteeism at 4.8% in 2025 after 4.5% in 2024, measured as days not worked over total working days.
- Psychological disorders now lead sick leave, accounting for one in two absences among workers under 30 and remaining the top reason up to age 55.
- Absences are climbing fastest for young employees and managers, while women make up about two thirds of stoppages and reached a 5.8% rate in 2025.
- Very long absences of more than two months represent over two thirds of the overall rate, and very short 1–3 day stoppages now form 44% of cases and often track epidemic waves.
- The government says it will step up checks on people seeking multiple sick-leave certificates, as experts call for prevention and better management to ease rising mental strain and repeated absences.