Civil service agents were absent 12 days on average in 2023, or 1.7 days more than private sector employees (10.3 days), according to a report from the General Directorate of Administration and Function public (DGAFP) Friday.
For comparison, according to a previous report from the DGAFP, the gap between the absences of public agents and employees in the private sector was 2.8 days in 2022. Concretely, public agents were absent on average 14 .5 days in the year, compared to 11.7 days for private sector employees.
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The gap between the days of absence of public officials and private sector employees therefore narrowed in 2023, going from 2.8 to 1.7 days.
These durations of absence are down in both sectors compared to 2022, but more notably in the public sector (− 2.5 days) than in the private sector (− 1.4 days)
specify the authors of the report.
Budget cuts planned
The question of a absenteeism
civil servants more important compared to private sector employees has regularly been mentioned by the government to justify the announcement of certain budget cuts in the public service to the tune of 1.2 billion euros, and in particular the move to three days of deficiency (unpaid) instead of one currently in the event of sick leave.
The higher frequency of absences for health reasons in the public sector compared to the private sector is partly linked to structural effects (more women and older agents)
et the presence of highly arduous professions can also help to explain these differences
we can read in particular.
