The Commission’s medical service presented the statistics for 2024: This is a summary presentation, without analysis and with missing data, but it draws our attention, as a union, to certain elements: The year 2024 saw a slight decrease in absenteeism due to medical reasons compared to 2023 and 2022.

At first glance, this trend might suggest an improvement in well-being at work, but other factors may also be at play:  Certainly, the post-pandemic effect, but testimonials gathered from our colleagues also point to increased pressure from management, fear of medical checks, fear of losing promotion opportunities or weakening one’s position in a tense professional environment.

More controversial is the role of teleworking, which has effectively eliminated the disabling nature of several illnesses, but has also blurred the line between work and private life and allows colleagues to be contacted even outside working hours.

One figure stands out: 75% of medical absences and disability cases involve women. This overrepresentation is not new, but it remains alarming. It can be explained by the double burden that many women bear, combining professional and family responsibilities, but also by the fact that, despite the progress made, women continue to be in the majority in the lowest-paid jobs. For the Union Syndicale, this reality calls for concrete measures: recognition of the specific risks faced by female colleagues, adaptation of jobs, raising managers’ awareness of equality, etc.

It is clear from the presentation that absenteeism due to medical reasons remains more pronounced in the most precarious categories, where short-term contracts and low wages predominate. Unstable conditions, irregular working hours, and a lack of prospects take their toll on both body and mind. It is no coincidence that the two departments with the highest percentage of absenteeism are the PMO and the OIB.

But the most worrying phenomenon is undoubtedly that of mental health. Mental health issues and burnout now account for half of all absences and disability claims. Burnout is not in itself a mental illness according to the World Health Organization, but it is a significant risk factor for developing depression, is associated with anxiety disorders, and can cause somatic symptoms such as chronic fatigue, insomnia, and migraines.

This explosion in mental illness and burnout reflects rising performance expectations, a loss of meaning, and increasing pressure in the workplace. For the Union Syndicale, this situation calls for a change in approach. It is no longer enough to take ad hoc action; the prevention of psychosocial risks must be firmly embedded in institutional policies. This requires training for managers, genuine recognition of mental illness as an occupational disease, and the strengthening of support and counseling mechanisms.

While absenteeism is declining slightly, the root causes of illness at work persist and are even worsening. Far from being a sign of recovery, the apparent decline in sick leave could well be masking silent fatigue and widespread resignation.

Faced with this reality, the Union Syndicale advocates for a comprehensive occupational health policy: better prevention, equal treatment between women and men, secure career paths, and full recognition of mental health as a collective issue.

Protecting the health of our colleagues also means refusing to let short-term efficiency take precedence over dignity. Behind every absenteeism statistic is a person, and behind every person is a fundamental right: the right to do their job without compromising their health.