Sick leave and absenteeism: the reality behind the political discourse

The myth of sick leave fraud

The debate over the increase in temporary disability has returned to the forefront of politics. Recently, Alberto Núñez Feijóo described the rise in medical leave as a "cancer" and suggested the existence of "mass fraud," advocating for cuts to benefits. However, this narrative ignores a complex reality: in Spain, sick leave is not voluntary; it requires strict authorization from a medical professional.

Using the term "absenteeism" to describe genuine medical conditions stigmatizes workers. As analyzed in our article on sick leave in Spain: why absenteeism hides a social crisis, this narrative obscures structural factors such as the aging of the workforce and the saturation of the healthcare system.

Real factors behind the increase

Since 2016, medical leave cases have doubled, reaching 9.76 million in the last year. This phenomenon is not a result of a lack of work ethic, but rather a cocktail of social and economic variables:

• Pandemic aftermath: COVID-19 altered health habits, reducing the practice of "working while sick," a trend that has solidified following the health crisis.
• Mental health crisis: Conditions related to depression and anxiety have doubled, making Spain a world leader in the consumption of anxiolytics.
• Aging workforce: With the retirement age being pushed back, a higher percentage of workers are over 50, which naturally leads to longer recovery processes.

Healthcare as a bottleneck

A critical factor is the saturation of Primary Care. Many doctors report that medical leave is unnecessarily prolonged due to waiting lists. Patients remain on leave not by choice, but because the system cannot perform diagnostic tests, such as MRIs or ultrasounds, in a reasonable timeframe. This lack of access to care is compounded by the economic instability faced by many families, whose incomes are already strained by the high cost of housing, rising rent prices, or the pressure of an unaffordable mortgage.

"We order an MRI, but they don't get it for six months. And the person is still unwell because they might have an undiagnosed herniated disc," explains Amparo Naranjo, a Primary Care physician.

Labor reform and the paradigm shift

Interestingly, the reduction in job insecurity has allowed more workers to exercise their right to medical leave. While previously, temporary contracts forced many employees to work while unwell for fear of dismissal, the current greater stability allows for a more honest approach to health management. In conclusion, reducing the problem to "fraud" simplifies a social crisis that requires structural solutions in healthcare and welfare, rather than punitive cuts.