Employees in Luxembourg attended work an average of 12 days despite feeling ill over the past 12 months, coming to the office more than taking sick leave, a survey by the Chamber of Employees has found.

The 2024 Quality of Work Index is conducted by the employee lobby group (Chambre des Salariés – CSL). The index was first published in February with additional information released on Thursday, showing that presenteeism – turning up for work despite feeling sick – is significant among the Luxembourg workforce.

Employees reported having attended work on average 12 days while feeling ill over the past 12 months, compared with an average of 5.3 days of taking sick leave. That translates to employees working on average 69% of the days they felt ill, according to the survey.

“This finding demonstrates the predominantly ‘pro-business’ trade-off made by employees,” the CSL said in a press release.

The survey had also reported that one in four workers had a ‘significant sleep disorder’ last year, with almost half in the hospitality industry reporting burnout

The numbers reflect a study by the General Inspectorate of Social Security (IGSS) from 2016 which also found that 85% of employees who were ill went to work sick at least once during the year.

Employers want to tackle absenteeism

The Quality of Work survey results come as employers have pushed the government on the need to tackle the rise in absenteeism by introducing legislation that would abolish or cut sick pay and require more checks on workers who take time off due to illness.

The rate of sick leave stood at around 4.5% in 2023. “This is costing companies around €1.2 billion directly in continued salary payments,” according to Marc Wagener, the director of the UEL, Luxembourg’s umbrella organisation of employer associations. But Prime Minister Luc Frieden at the turn of the year said that his government would not change the law on sick leave.

The CSL reported that presenteeism and sick leave rates vary starkly between different occupations.

The number of days absent due to illness varies from 3.3 days for executives and managers to 7.7 days for elementary occupations, such as housekeepers or labourers. On the other hand, the number of days spent at work despite feeling ill is six days for executives and managers, compared to 26.5 days for elementary occupations.

The CSL cites surveys carried out in France and Germany in its report. They found that lack of time to get a particular task done, job insecurity, constraints on the pace of work imposed by machines and hierarchical control are among the factors increasing the incentive to turn up to work when sick.

On the other hand, having a high level of autonomy, assistance and support at work, a choice of deadlines or work methods, as well as recognition of work or good promotion prospects, decrease presenteeism, the authors wrote.

The costs of presenteeism

Presenteeism, then, is not seen as a positive trend according to the CSL. “On an individual basis, presenteeism doesn’t allow sick employees to recover fully, which can also lead to longer term absences,” the chamber said. “Neglecting current health problems can lead to more serious ailments in the future. The spread of illness to other employees could also lead to a substantial increase in sick leave within the company.”

According to scientific literature reviewed by Dares, an agency of the French Ministry of Labour, the estimated costs of presenteeism – caused by potential mistakes and reduced productivity – could exceed those incurred by staff taking sick leave. And there are also hidden costs in the form of lower morale among the workforce, reduced job satisfaction, disengagement, higher turnover and an increased risk that other employees will also feel under pressure and become ill at work.

“It therefore seems essential to focus efforts on improving working conditions and managing health at work, paying particular attention to the opinions of employees or their representatives on their quality of life at work,” the CSL concludes.