Dutch insurers launch initiative to prevent mental health absenteeism

In the Netherlands, insurers, municipalities, the UWV, mental health services, and employer organizations have signed the ‘Sterk door Werk’ covenant. This initiative aims to prevent long-term absenteeism caused by mental health issues by shifting focus from mere reintegration to proactive prevention and early signaling.

Addressing mental health is seen as essential to reducing personal suffering, income loss, and the societal costs associated with long-term sick leave. The collaboration seeks to provide better support for employees to remain healthy and employed through coordinated efforts between employers, occupational health services, and government agencies.

Separately, research from TNO highlights the significant financial burden of absenteeism on employers, which includes not only continued wage payments but also replacement costs, administration, and reintegration efforts. While 60% of employers carry sickness insurance on average, coverage drops to 23% for organizations with more than 100 employees, whereas smaller companies (under 50 employees) see coverage rates between 76% and 86%. Smaller employers without dedicated HR departments are particularly vulnerable to the complex administrative procedures and costs associated with the Dutch absenteeism system.