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This is stated by Nav Vestfold and Telemark.
County physician-certified sick leave was 4.8 percent in the third quarter of 2020. This is a five percent increase compared to last year.
The increase in sick leave due to respiratory diseases reaches up to 30 percent.
– Many with respiratory symptoms are now or have been on sick leave. This naturally increases the total sick leave in the county. At the same time, there is a relatively large decrease in sick leave related to some other diagnoses, says NAV Vestfold and Telemark director Terje Tønnessen.
– We do not know if it is a coincidence, but it is clearly a connection with the comprehensive infection control norms and recommendations around the pandemic in society, adds Tønnesen.
INCREASE: More people with respiratory symptoms are or have been on sick leave during the year. Photo: unpack
Worse in health and social services
At Vestfold and Telemark, physician-certified sick leave is up to 6% for women and 3.8% for men. There has been the largest increase in sick leave in the 60-64 age group, especially among men.
The most affected sector is health and social assistance. Here, sick leave is almost seven percent.
The industry with the largest reduction in sick leave is the accommodation and catering industry. Here, however, there are many laid off.
– It is not surprising that sick leave is higher in health and social services. The industry has been under enormous pressure and there have been great demands on work effort for many in these professions. Additionally, employees have been exposed to a higher risk of infection than many other occupational groups, says Tønnessen.
In Norway as a whole, the percentage of sick leave is 4.5%. Vestfold and Telemark are well above average.
