What does absenteeism really cost your organisation?

The total cost of absenteeism

The question that often comes up in the case of sick leave is: 'How much does the employer pay when an employee falls ill?' The cost of an absent employee does not stop at guaranteed pay. Since 1 January 2026, the rules on sick leave have changed and especially tightened for larger organisations.

As an employer, what do you specifically pay?

• Guaranteed pay: For white-collar workers, you pay 100% their wages for the first 30 days. For a blue-collar worker, you do so through the graduated scheme. So in week 1, 100% and in week 2 85.88% and as the weeks progress, the benefit you have to pay as an employer decreases.
• New Solidarity Contribution (2026): Companies of at least 50 employees will have to pay a solidarity contribution of 30% on top of sick pay during the second and third month of absence starting this year. It can therefore amount to €850 per month on top of other sick leave costs.
• The formula: On average, one sick employee costs between €250 and €400 per day.

Indirect costs: the hidden leaks

Besides the direct wage bill, there are also the indirect costs that impact your profit margins:

• Production loss: Some projects face delays that require shifting deadlines.
• Team pressure: Because some employees are absent, there is a higher workload on the colleagues who are present. This can lead to a 'domino effect', with the healthier employees eventually dropping out themselves due to overwork.
• Quality loss: Temporary replacements such as interims often have a learning curve, which affects the quality of your service.

Legislation: Reintegration and the role of government

When employee absenteeism is prolonged, you, as an employer or HR department, must take federal legislation into account. The FPS Employment therefore emphasises the reintegration of incapacitated workers. Since the reforms, the government's aim has been to get sick workers back to work faster and more often. The reintegration process can be started by the employee, the treating doctor or the employer himself. The risk for the employer is that if you only start this process when an employee has been at home for months, the gap with the workplace is often already too big. As a result, the employee will not want to come back. The idea, therefore, is that you as an employer should engage in preventive reintegration so that no gap can develop. Preventive medical screenings are part of this. Stricter sanctions also hang on companies that do not make sufficient efforts to reintegrate employees since 2026.

The ROI of prevention: Prevention is more profitable than reintegration

This is where the Medical Centre makes a difference. Why wait for a legal reintegration process when you can prevent employee dropout? In the workplace, we offer preventive medical screenings that act as an early warning system in terms of your employees' health.

• Early detection: Our doctors trace cardiovascular risks, stress indicators and other 'silent killers' of health even before they can lead to disability.
• Early treatment: By detecting the diseases at an early stage, immediate action can be taken with appropriate follow-up consultations, further investigations or treatments.
• Less administrative burden: Prevention reduces the need to start complex reintegration files with the FPS.
• Higher retention: An employee who feels physically and mentally supported by the employer is more loyal and less prone to absenteeism.

So a proactive health policy not only reduces direct absenteeism costs, but also strengthens your employer branding. In a labour market where talent is scarce, a health package a strong asset of your HR department.

How we strengthen your organisation

The Medical Centre makes preventive healthcare accessible and efficient for employers and their HR departments. Our doctors with years of experience come to the workplace to conduct medical screenings in a casual, professional atmosphere.

• Bespoke: Together with the HR department, we draw up a care package together that fits the risk profiles of your sector.
• Personal & professional: The screenings take place in a casual atmosphere on our own shop floor with state-of-the-art medical equipment.
• Discreet: The medical results are private to the employee themselves, while you as an employer do benefit from a healthier team and your HR department receives an overall insight of your employees' health.

Regain control of your absence costs

Absenteeism is not unmanageable. By shifting the focus from cure and reintegration to prevention and reinforcement, you save a lot of costs and create a healthy working environment. Do you really want to reduce absenteeism costs in your company? Then discover our B2B screening packages or schedule a non-binding consultation in with our doctors.