Women in Europe face twice the stress-related sick leave as men in 2025

Stress-related sick leave has risen sharply across Europe, with women bearing a heavier burden than men. New figures from 2025 show that female employees lose twice as much working time to stress as their male colleagues. The gap between genders has grown wider in recent years, raising concerns about workplace pressures and broader societal challenges. Over the past five years, stress-linked absences have jumped by 43 percent. In Germany alone, the increase reached 47 percent since 2014, with a further 6.9 percent rise in 2025. One in four sick days is now attributed to stress, making it a leading cause of workplace absence.

Women aged 25 and older report sick more often and stay home longer than men in the same age group. Their average absence duration due to stress is significantly higher, partly due to domestic caregiving responsibilities. Heavy workloads and financial struggles add to the pressure, particularly for those balancing work and personal obligations. Germany ranks seventh in Europe for total sick leave, with employees taking an average of 3.6 weeks off per year—above the EU average of 2.6 weeks. Mental health issues account for 12.5 percent of these absences. While no specific data exists for the Netherlands, the trend reflects a broader European pattern of rising workplace stress.

The surge in stress-related sick leave highlights ongoing challenges in work-life balance, especially for women. With financial pressures and caregiving duties adding to the strain, employers and policymakers face growing calls to address the issue. The data underscores the need for targeted support to reduce workplace stress and its impact on productivity.