CHB 2.5.1: Data on work-related Illness and Absence

In 2013, data from Volksgezondheidenzorg revealed that 9.2% of all employees in the Netherlands became ill through their work tasts (image 1) from which 56.2% were attributed to complaints in the musculoskeletal system (image 2). Further, image 3 shows a clear uptrend for all work-related absences in all job groups from 2015-2019 as data from Beroepsziekten reveals. In alignment with this data, image 4 shows that absences from work were mainly due to mental issues and complaints to the musculoskeletal system (Beroepsziekten, 2020). In average, 27% of all reported absences from work were attributed to the complaints in the musculoskeletal system (image 5) between 2015-2019. As such, approximately 2 Million people, from which 842 thousand men and 1.2 Million women, were diagnosed with neck and pack pain in 2019 (Volksgezondheidenzorg, 2020). To better understand complaints related to the MSK system, Beroepdsziekten (2020) have divided them into different regions of the body: upper body (neck, shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist, hand), back, and lower body (hip, legs, knees, ankle foot). As shown in image 6, complaints in the upper body and back region are most prevalent in MSK system complaints. Interestingly, complaints in the back appear to be responsible for 15% of all absence from work in the Netherlands, and 21-32% of employees report their work and related tasks to be responsible for this (Beroepsziekten, 2020). Further identifying the affected working population, image 7 by Beroepziekten (2020) shows that the majority of employees with these complaints is above 40. Once reported absent from work due to MSK complaints, 75% of employees will stay absent for more than one month (image 8), putting a large burden on companies. In general, the work-related costs for illnesses as a result of work were estimated to 1.8 Billion Euros in 2018 (see image 9), as data from the volksgezongheidenzorg reveals (Volkgezongheidenzorg, 2020). Overall health care costs in the Netherlands were 88 Billion Euros in 2017, which is 5100 Euro per citizen, and of which 6.6 Billion Euros were spent for MSK disease. In fact, the costs for treatment of neck- and backpain alone was 937 Million Euro in 2017. Image 10 shows that the total costs for illnesses related to the MSK system between 2003-2017 has been increasing, and is expected to increase further, particularly when present conditions of remote working continue to exist. Of further concern, prevalence of neck and back complaints is increasing per age (image 11). 

The present data shows that MSKd represents a large burden for companies, in particular as employees seem to have to stay absent for longer periods of time. The most affected age group appears to be above 40, which could partly be explained by the fact that they have already worked for 10-20 years and had more opportunities to be physically active compared to current remote working conditions due to COVID-19 confinements. However, as discussed in the previous section, COVID-19 confinements could be seen as a catalyst for these conditions, accelerating their development. In support, remote working conditions were shown to result in higher occurrences of neck and back-pain (Moretti et al., 2020) which are well-known causes for absences of work. Thereafter, it is highly likely that the quantity of employees reporting absent from work with these complaints will increase massively. While it is impossible to calculate the exact magnitude of outcomes, it is certain that this will lead to higher costs for work-related illnesses and absence for companies, negatively affecting their performance. To prevent a sharp increase in costs for employees that will develop MSK conditions over the next years, effective prevention schemes will have to become an essential part of corporate health management.