Long-term absences due to burnout and depression are going up in Belgium. But a new study highlights that it is in the financial interest of companies to prevent these absences, as they deal heavy blows to profitability.
Experts have long called for companies to prioritise employee wellbeing, especially mental health. Between 2016 and 2021, long-term absences due to burnout and depression increased by 46%, figures from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (RIZIV) showed. However this is a strong underestimate, as those who were absent for less than a year due to burnout are not included in these figures.
