Mutua Navarra reports record duration for sick leaves

A report from Mutua Navarra indicates that while the number of new common contingency sick leaves has decreased by 6.4% compared to the previous year, the duration of these absences has reached record levels. The average duration of completed sick leaves rose by 21.2% to 34.81 days.

Musculoskeletal disorders and mental health issues account for 64% of all lost workdays. While musculoskeletal disorders remain the most frequent cause, mental health-related absences have seen a significant increase of 18.6% over the last year, sitting 78.7% above pre-pandemic levels. Notably, there is a concerning trend among women aged 20 to 40, who are experiencing the highest increases in incidence.

Although long-term sick leaves exceeding twelve months represent only 2.45% of completed processes, they account for 64% of total lost workdays. Factors contributing to these delays include long waiting lists for specialists within the Navarra Health Service and pathologies that require extended recovery periods.