Fewer sick reports in March, impact of long-term absences remains high

23 April 2026

The average sick leave rate in the Netherlands fell to 5.0% in March, compared with 5.4% in February. In the first quarter of 2026, the average absence rate of 5.2% remained unchanged from a year earlier. Sick reports are decreasing, but long-term absences continue to have a greater impact on absenteeism overall. This calls for sustained focus on recovery and prevention, based on figures from occupational health and safety services ArboNed and HumanCapitalCare, both part of HumanTotalCare and jointly serving around one million employees.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of sick leave reports was approximately 12% lower than a year earlier. On average, the monthly absence rate was 69 sick calls per 1,000 employees, compared to 78 calls in the same period in 2025. Although the number of sick reports is decreasing, we see that employees who are absent long-term are taking longer to recover.

Fewer flu cases, fewer sick reports

The decrease in the number of sick reports can be partially explained by the normal seasonal pattern. The flu season started later this year and was less severe than in 2025. In February, the highest number of sick reports this winter was recorded at 81 per 1,000 employees, followed by a decrease in March. Fewer cases of the flu result primarily in fewer short-term absences, which is reflected in a decrease in the number of sick reports.

Increase in duration of sick leave continues; absenteeism due to psychological reasons of particular concern

Despite fewer reports at the quarterly level, total absences remain the same, which is consistent with a broader trend that occupational health and safety service providers have been observing for some time. “We have been seeing the average duration of sick leave rise for a number of years now,” says Redmer van Wijngaarden, Occupational Physician and Director of Medical Affairs at ArboNed. “As a result, long-term absence is accounting for an increasingly larger share of total absenteeism and placing a heavier burden on people and organisations.”

Long-term absence has increased by approximately 10% over the past three years. During the same period, the average duration of sick leave rose from 24 to 28 days. Issues due to psychological symptoms in particular are causing long-term absence. It is noteworthy that women take long-term sick leave more frequently and for longer periods due to stress than men. Stress-related absence lasts an average of 245 days for men and 261 days for women. In cases of burnout, this rises to 323 days for men and 336 days for women.

Continued focus on recovery and prevention

“A focus on recovery remains vital for a successful return to work, precisely because absences are lasting longer,” Van Wijngaarden said. “This requires addressing workload and stress at an early stage, providing appropriate support, and allowing sufficient time for recovery. Anyone who wants to reduce absences systematically will also need to continue investing in prevention.”

He believes the May holidays offer both opportunities and areas of focus. “Taking regular time off helps people to recharge, enabling them to cope better with stress and workload. At the same time, employers need a good understanding of how holidays are spread out to prevent the workload from becoming too high for those colleagues who are still working. Organising this effectively creates space for recovery and ensures the workload remains manageable for everyone.”