IDEWE survey: 13% of employees expect to be absent due to mental health problems
Predicted absence due to work-related stress and conflicts almost as high (13%) as due to physical reasons (15%). Only 26% believe management responds quickly to mental problems. 72% of employees know where to turn for stress, bullying or conflicts.
Research1 by IDEWE among 2,642 respondents shows that 13% consider it 'rather likely' or 'very likely' that they will be absent in the coming six months due to mental health problems such as stress, burnout, conflicts or bullying (psychosocial reasons). This figure is remarkably close to the 15% who predict being absent due to physical complaints such as back or neck pain or infection. This survey by Belgium's largest external occupational health and safety service demonstrates that mental health has an equally significant impact on work absence as physical health.
When we zoom in on how employees feel in the workplace, we see that 18% of respondents experience a high degree of exhaustion and feelings of detachment in the workplace, 28% experience high levels of stress at work and 34% experience high work pressure.
“We see that psychosocial risks such as stress, burnout and conflict are increasingly leading to long-term absence. Research also shows that when people indicate they are likely to drop out, this unfortunately often does happen”, says Lode Godderis, CEO of IDEWE and Professor of Occupational Medicine at KU Leuven.
"That 13% of the working population predicts this themselves is an alarm signal. We all urgently need to focus on prevention, learn to capture the warning signs in employees and colleagues, and make this a topic of discussion in the workplace, so that together we can prevent the predicted absence."
Belgians relatively enthusiastic about their type of work, communication remains stumbling block
The majority of respondents appear to be enthusiastic about the type of work they do. For instance, 68% experience a high degree of task variety and 64% experience a high degree of decision-making autonomy. Many employees also see their work as meaningful -- 79% feel 'energetic, enthusiastic and engaged' and 80% are 'rather satisfied', 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied'.
Organizations can still step up in terms of employment conditions, growth opportunities, input and communication within the work organization: only 40% experience growth opportunities and 35% are satisfied with employment conditions. Only 46% of respondents feel well informed about important matters within the organization and 32% experience a high degree of input in the organization.
These figures don't necessarily mean that the Belgian working population is also massively looking for other work: 62% would recommend the employer to others and even 69% intend to stay in their current job.
"A lack of input and slow response to psychosocial signals can increase the risk of absence", says Godderis. "An open communication culture and quick intervention are crucial. We need to make it clearer to employees which help channels they can access for mental problems. These channels exist, so it's a shame if they're not used."
Social support in the workplace: known but underutilized
The research also examined how employees find support from each other or others in the workplace. The figures show that 72% of employees know where to turn for stress, bullying or conflicts. 71% feel they can turn to colleagues, while 60% would approach their supervisors. Only 28% of employees feel supported by the HR department or know they can turn there for problems. Notably: only 26% believe management responds quickly to address mental problems.
Lode Godderis: "In most organizations we see a sort of 'waterfall effect': employees first seek support from colleagues or supervisors, and only secondarily from other, perhaps more formal services. That's normal, but it is important that the threshold to the confidential counselor is as low as possible. Because although these figures seem encouraging, it appears that only 37% would actually approach a confidential counselor, and barely 12% would approach a psychosocial aspects prevention adviser."
On the other hand, colleagues apparently do know how to find each other: 68% of respondents dare to ask colleagues for help and also feel valued by colleagues. Looking at supervisors, 62% of employees find support and appreciation from their supervisors.
1: RAPSi data (risk analysis psychosocial aspects): Research conducted by IDEWE among 2,642 respondents between 2021 and 2024, representative of the Belgian working population.