A total of 10,710 civil servants and permanent government employees took sick leave in 2024, according to figures from the Ministry of Finance, indicating that the overwhelming majority of public sector staff used at least one day of sick leave during the year.
According to information submitted to parliament by Finance Minister Makis Keravnos in response to questions from MP Giorgos Pamboridis, the number of employees who took sick leave lasting between one and six days rose to 3,323 in 2024, compared with 3,002 in 2023.
This category now represents 25.1% of all employees, up from 22.5% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, 2,720 employees took sick leave lasting seven to 13 days in 2024, compared with 2,796 in 2023, with this category continuing to account for more than 20% of the workforce.
The number of employees absent due to illness for 14 to 20 days fell to 1,609 (12.13%), compared with 1,668 (12.52%) the previous year.
Those taking sick leave of 21 to 27 days also declined to 939 employees (7.08%), from 1,051 (7.89%) in 2023.
Long-term absences continue to decline
Longer periods of sick leave also continued to decrease.
Specifically:
- 364 employees took sick leave of 43 days to two months, compared with 451 in 2023.
- 516 employees were absent for two to six months, compared with 588 the previous year.
Out of a total workforce of 13,260 employees, 2,550 did not take any sick leave during 2024.
Departments with the highest rates
The data show particularly high rates of employees taking more than 27 days of sick leave per year in certain public services.
In 2024, the highest proportions were recorded in the offices of the:
- Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights
- Law Commissioner
Both offices employ relatively small numbers of staff.
Specifically:
- Four out of eight employees at the Office of the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights took more than 27 days of sick leave.
- Four out of 10 employees at the Office of the Law Commissioner did the same.
The report notes that because of the small workforce in these offices, even minor changes in employee numbers significantly affect the percentages.
A high rate was also recorded at the Mental Health Services of the Ministry of Health, at 31.46%, and at the Mines Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, at 30.77%, which also employs a relatively small workforce.
Among larger departments:
- 27.03% of staff at the Registrar of Companies took more than 27 days of sick leave in 2024, up from 26.36% in 2023.
- 26.51% of employees in the Social Welfare Services took more than 27 days of sick leave, compared with 26.30% a year earlier.
- 26.47% of employees in the Prisons Department took more than 27 days of sick leave, down from 36.92% in 2023.
- 25.93% of employees in the Department of Labour took more than 27 days of sick leave, compared with 27.93% the previous year.
Workload and workplace culture factors
According to Keravnos, working conditions, workload and the nature of employees' duties all influence sick leave usage.
"The working conditions, workload and nature of employees' duties affect the use of sick leave within each service. Therefore, differences in sick leave rates between services are understandable and reasonable, although abusive practices cannot be justified."
The minister also noted that other factors play a role, including organisational culture, compensation policies for sickness absence and the effectiveness of monitoring mechanisms.
He added that the government is seeking to improve oversight through regulatory changes that have already been put forward.
