Absence from Work Report 2019. Absences Due to Sickness and Accidents in Austria – Working Time and Health

This report provides an overview of the evolution and distribution of absences from work due to illness and accidents in Austria. In 2018, employees on average spent 13.1 calendar days on sick leave. This is a slight increase over the previous year and corresponds to a loss of annual working hours of 3.6 percent. This year's report dedicates a thematic focus to the opportunities and risks for health resulting from working time arrangements. New forms of working time flexibility are gaining in importance, while established models such as shift and night work are still widespread. The results show that the organisation of working time plays an important role in promoting health and well-being. However, the health effects of a specific working time arrangement result from the complex interaction of working time with other working conditions and with individual factors.