Last year, the sickness absence rate at the University of Groningen was 5.6 percent — one percentage point higher than in 2023 and also higher than at other universities.
University board president Jouke de Vries expressed concern during a meeting of the university council. ‘We take this very seriously’, he said.
The situation is also putting financial pressure on the university. ‘Each percentage point of absenteeism costs the university six million euros’, said Sandy Fidder, board secretary for HR & Health.
Long-term absences — those lasting more than six weeks — are the main contributors to the high rate. There is a striking difference in absenteeism between job types: for academic staff it was 4.2 percent, compared to nearly 10 percent among support staff.
More flexibility
One explanation may be that academic work often allows for more flexible scheduling, meaning an official sick report is not always necessary. The performance-driven culture in academia might also lead individuals to hesitate before reporting sick.
According to the university’s absenteeism report, the largest group of people who consult an occupational social worker cite high work pressure. However, Ton Modderman from the university’s occupational health service emphasises that it’s often not just the job itself causing absences, but a combination of work and personal circumstances.