Absence from Work Report 2016. Absences Due to Sickness and Accidents in Austria

This report provides an overview of the evolution and distribution of absences from work due to illness and accidents in Austria. In 2015 we observe a slight increase of sickness absences with respect to 2014. On average, employees spent 12.7 calender days on sick leave during the course of the year. This corresponds to a loss of working time of approximately 3.5 percent. This year's report contains a focus on alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse in the labour force. Epidemiological data are used to describe the magnitude and distribution of alcohol problems in the Austrian labour force. In a further step, concepts and best practice examples for firm-level alcohol abuse prevention programmes are presented and discussed.