{"id":119852,"date":"2026-03-20T10:40:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:40:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/?p=119852"},"modified":"2026-03-20T10:42:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:42:46","slug":"what-absenteeism-really-costs-your-organisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/news\/what-absenteeism-really-costs-your-organisation\/","title":{"rendered":"What does absenteeism really cost your organisation?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div data-parent=\"true\" class=\"vc_row row-container\" id=\"row-unique-0\"><div class=\"row double-top-padding one-bottom-padding single-h-padding limit-width row-parent\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_parent col-lg-12 single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\"  ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><div class=\"fontsize-935186 font-weight-200\" ><span>As an HR professional or employer, you recognise the problem of rising employee absenteeism in Belgium. In doing so, look beyond just the wage cost as an invoice of an absent employee. The real impact of sick employees on your bottom line is much greater than expected.<\/p><\/span><span><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><span><p>By 2025, the Belgian private sector lost on average more than one working day in ten to illness. Although short-term absenteeism fell slightly, cases of long-term absenteeism keep rising to as much as 3.14%. So the question is no longer whether you as a company should take action, but rather how quickly you can get costs under control. The<a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/\"> Medical Centre<\/a> is happy to help you and your HR department with this.<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"script-row-unique-0\" data-row=\"script-row-unique-0\" type=\"text\/javascript\" class=\"vc_controls\">UNCODE.initRow(document.getElementById(\"row-unique-0\"));<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><div data-parent=\"true\" class=\"vc_row row-container\" id=\"row-unique-1\"><div class=\"row limit-width row-parent\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-top pos-center align_left column_parent col-lg-12 half-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\"  ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"empty-space empty-quart\" ><span class=\"empty-space-inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"uncode-single-media  text-left\"><div class=\"single-wrapper\" style=\"max-width: 100%;\"><div class=\"tmb tmb-light  tmb-media-first tmb-media-last tmb-content-overlay tmb-no-bg\"><div class=\"t-inside\"><div class=\"t-entry-visual\"><div class=\"t-entry-visual-tc\"><div class=\"uncode-single-media-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-119854\" src=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt.jpg\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" alt=\"Real cost of sick leave for employer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-uai-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Infographic-blog-Medisch-Centrum-Wat-kost-ziekteverzuim-uw-organisatie-echt-En-hoe-u-dat-voorkomt-uai-1032x581.jpg 1032w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h2\" ><span>The total cost of absenteeism<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p>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.<\/p>\n<h3>As an employer, what do you specifically pay?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Guaranteed pay:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.liantis.be\/nl\/kennis-en-inspiratienieuws\/nieuwe-solidariteitsbijdrage-bij-ziekte-vanaf-2026-wat-betekent-dit-voor\">New Solidarity Contribution (2026):<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>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 \u20ac850 per month on top of other sick leave costs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The formula:<\/strong> On average, one sick employee costs between \u20ac250 and \u20ac400 per day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Indirect costs: the hidden leaks<\/h3>\n<p>Besides the direct wage bill, there are also the indirect costs that impact your profit margins:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Production loss:<\/strong> Some projects face delays that require shifting deadlines.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Team pressure:<\/strong> 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.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quality loss:<\/strong> Temporary replacements such as interims often have a learning curve, which affects the quality of your service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"btn-container animate_when_almost_visible alpha-anim\" data-delay=\"200\"><a role=\"button\"  href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"custom-link btn btn-custom-typo font-146656 font-weight-400 text-uppercase no-letterspace border-width-0 button_licht_blauw btn-color-873549 btn-square btn-no-scale btn-icon-left\" title=\"Contact\" id=\"button_hide_wachtpagina\">Making an appointment<\/a><\/span><div class=\"empty-space empty-single\" ><span class=\"empty-space-inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h2\" ><span>Legislation: Reintegration and the role of government<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p class=\"font-weight-200\" ><span>When employee absenteeism is prolonged, you, as an employer or HR department, must take federal legislation into account. The FPS Employment therefore emphasises <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/werk.belgie.be\/nl\/themas\/welzijn-op-het-werk\/re-integratie-van-arbeidsongeschikte-werknemers-en-preventie-van\">the reintegration of incapacitated workers<\/a><\/span>.<\/p><\/span><span><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><span><p>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.<\/p><\/span><span><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><span><p>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. <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/screening\/\">Preventive medical screenings<\/a> <\/span>are part of this. Stricter sanctions also hang on companies that do not make sufficient efforts to reintegrate employees since 2026.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h2\" ><span>The ROI of prevention: Prevention is more profitable than reintegration<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p class=\"font-weight-200\" ><span>This is where the Medical Centre makes a difference. Why wait for a legal reintegration process when you can prevent employee dropout?<\/p><\/span><span><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><span><p>In the workplace, we offer <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/screening\/\">preventive medical screenings<\/a><\/span> that act as an early warning system in terms of your employees' health.<\/p><\/span><span><ul><\/span><span><li><strong>Early detection:<\/strong> Our doctors trace <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/cardiology-consultation\/\">cardiovascular risks<\/a>,<\/span> stress indicators and other 'silent killers' of health even before they can lead to disability.<\/li><\/span><span><li><strong>Early treatment:<\/strong> By detecting the diseases at an early stage, immediate action can be taken with appropriate <a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/consultations\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">follow-up consultations<\/span><\/a>, further <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/investigations\/\">investigations<\/a><\/span> or treatments.<\/li><\/span><span><li><strong>Less administrative burden:<\/strong> Prevention reduces the need to start complex reintegration files with the FPS.<\/li><\/span><span><li><strong>Higher retention:<\/strong> An employee who feels physically and mentally supported by the employer is more loyal and less prone to absenteeism.<\/li><\/span><span><\/ul><\/span><span><p><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p class=\"font-weight-200\" ><span>So a proactive health policy not only reduces direct absenteeism costs, but also strengthens your <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/news\/how-medical-screenings-contribute-to-a-stronger-employer-brand\/\">employer branding<\/a><\/span>. In a labour market where talent is scarce, a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/care-packages\/\">health package<\/a><\/span> a strong asset of your HR department.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h2\" ><span>How we strengthen your organisation<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p class=\"font-weight-200\" ><span>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.<\/p><\/span><span><ul><\/span><span><li><strong>Bespoke:<\/strong> Together with the HR department, we draw up a <a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/care-packages\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">care package<\/span><\/a> together that fits the risk profiles of your sector.<\/li><\/span><span><li><strong>Personal &amp; professional:<\/strong> The screenings take place in a casual atmosphere on our own shop floor with state-of-the-art medical equipment.<\/li><\/span><span><li><strong>Discreet:<\/strong> 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.<\/li><\/span><span><\/ul><\/span><span><p><\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><h2 class=\"h2\" ><span>Regain control of your absence costs<\/span><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text\" ><p class=\"font-weight-200\" ><span>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.<\/p><\/span><span><p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/span><span><p><strong>Do you really want to reduce absenteeism costs in your company?<\/strong> Then discover our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/care-packages\/\">B2B screening packages<\/a><\/span> or <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/contact-appointment\/\">schedule a non-binding consultation<\/a><\/span> in with our doctors.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"empty-space empty-single\" ><span class=\"empty-space-inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"script-row-unique-1\" data-row=\"script-row-unique-1\" type=\"text\/javascript\" class=\"vc_controls\">UNCODE.initRow(document.getElementById(\"row-unique-1\"));<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><div data-parent=\"true\" class=\"vc_row row-container\" id=\"row-unique-2\"><div class=\"row no-top-padding no-bottom-padding no-h-padding full-width row-parent\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-middle pos-center align_center column_parent col-lg-12 single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\"  ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell\" ><div class=\"column-background background-element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"background-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"background-inner\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_238730671.jpg);background-repeat: no-repeat;background-position: center center;background-size: cover;\" data-o_src=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AdobeStock_238730671.jpg\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"block-bg-overlay style-color-227611-bg\" style=\"opacity: 0.9;\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"uncont single-block-padding col-custom-width\" style=\" max-width:55%;\" ><div class=\"empty-space empty-triple\" ><span class=\"empty-space-inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row row-internal row-container\"><div class=\"row row-child\"><div class=\"wpb_row row-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_column pos-middle pos-center align_center column_child col-lg-12 single-internal-gutter\"><div class=\"uncol style-light\" ><div class=\"uncoltable\"><div class=\"uncell no-block-padding\" ><div class=\"uncont\" ><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap titel_thermalVF\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text alpha-anim animate_when_almost_visible\" data-delay=\"200\"><p class=\"font-116211 fontsize-450760 fontheight-954288 font-weight-100 text-color-xsdn-color\" ><span>Health is the greatest asset. Preventive screening is the first step to maintaining it.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_custom_heading_wrap titel_thermalVF\"><div class=\"heading-text el-text alpha-anim animate_when_almost_visible\" data-delay=\"200\"><p class=\"font-146656 fontsize-865542 font-weight-200 text-color-xsdn-color\" ><span>At the Medical Centre, care, trust and expertise go hand in hand. We offer quality medical screenings in a casual atmosphere.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div class=\"clear\"><\/div><\/div><span class=\"btn-container animate_when_almost_visible alpha-anim\" data-delay=\"200\"><a role=\"button\"  href=\"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/contact\/\" class=\"custom-link btn btn-custom-typo font-146656 font-weight-400 text-uppercase no-letterspace border-width-0 button_licht_blauw btn-color-873549 btn-square btn-no-scale btn-icon-left\" title=\"Contact\" id=\"button_hide_wachtpagina\">Making an appointment<\/a><\/span><div class=\"empty-space empty-triple\" ><span class=\"empty-space-inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"script-row-unique-2\" data-row=\"script-row-unique-2\" type=\"text\/javascript\" class=\"vc_controls\">UNCODE.initRow(document.getElementById(\"row-unique-2\"));<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Als HR-professional of werkgever herken je het probleem van de stijging van ziekteverzuim bij werknemers in Belgi\u00eb. Kijk daarbij verder [...]","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":119864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[188],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nieuws"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119852"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119852\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119866,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119852\/revisions\/119866"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medischcentrum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}