Norway sick leave rises to 6.7 percent amid record graded leave

Norway's total sick leave rose slightly to 6.7 percent in the second quarter, up from 6.6 percent, according to Statistics Norway. While the increase is marginal, sick leave levels have risen slightly over the last three quarters.

Medical certificates accounted for 5.7 percent of the total absence, while self-reported sick leave stood at 1.0 percent. NAV Director Hege Nilssen noted that while sick leave remains at a high level following pandemic-era fluctuations, there is a record number of graded sick leaves. Approximately 31 percent of sick leaves were graded in the second quarter, compared to 29 percent during the same period last year.

Nilssen expressed support for the use of graded sick leave as a way to maintain health through work, though she emphasized the importance of following up to ensure full recovery. The increase in lost workdays—totaling 7.8 million for medical leave in the second quarter—is attributed to employees being away for longer durations on average, particularly due to mental health diagnoses, rather than a higher number of individual cases.