The Chamber of Employees (CSL) has raised concerns about presenteeism – employees working while ill – calling it a “widespread but often ignored” issue in Luxembourg. According to recent data, workers average 12 days per year on the job while sick, compared to just five days of sick leave.
The problem spans all sectors but varies significantly by profession. The CSL’s 2024 Quality of Work (QoW) survey found that elementary professions (e.g., manual or low-wage roles) report 34 sick days worked annually, far higher than the 14 days logged by intellectual and scientific professionals.
Presenteeism drops sharply among managers and executives, who average just nine sick days worked per year. By contrast, employees in physically demanding or precarious roles face greater pressure to show up despite illness, often due to fear of job loss or penalties, the CSL noted in a Thursday press release.
The divide extends to sick leave: managers take just 3.3 days annually, while elementary professions average 7.7 days – a 4.4-day difference. The CSL argues that “disparities between professions and, to a lesser extent, between sectors are far starker in presenteeism than in absenteeism.”
Research suggests presenteeism may cost companies more than absenteeism, as ill employees are less productive and risk worsening their health.
Beyond the immediate risks of workplace contamination and potential errors made by ill employees, presenteeism creates deeper organisational challenges. The CSL emphasises several hidden consequences, including diminished employee morale and reduced job satisfaction among those who work while sick. This practice often leads to broader workplace disengagement, higher staff turnover rates, and a concerning domino effect where healthy colleagues feel pressured to follow suit, ultimately degrading the overall work environment.
Medical recovery is also compromised, as employees who forego proper sick leave frequently experience prolonged health issues, potentially resulting in longer absences later.
With data showing Luxembourg employees more likely to work while ill than take legitimate sick leave, the CSL warns this behaviour has effectively “become the norm.” The organisation is now pushing for a fundamental shift in workplace culture to address this trend.
Their proposed solution centres on three key principles: prevention through proactive health measures, eliminating the stigma around taking sick leave, and implementing supportive return-to-work policies for recovering employees. The CSL identifies these measures as essential foundations for reducing presenteeism’s risks and creating healthier, more sustainable work environments across Luxembourg’s industries.
