Personal absences are increasingly straining Swiss small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs), with costs rising as mental health-related leave grows, according to a study by insurer AXA. The AXA SME labor-market survey, published Thursday, found that 40% of SMEs reported absences over the past decade, a figure that climbs to 62% among firms with 50 to 250 employees.
Mental health-related absences now account for a significant share of the burden. A third of surveyed SMEs reported moderate to severe impacts from employee mental health issues, up 10 percentage points from 2023 to 35%. The study highlights a correlation between leadership practices and absenteeism: companies prioritizing autonomy and responsibility reported lower rates of psychologically driven leave. Only 27% of such firms experienced mental health-related absences, compared with 43% at companies without these leadership principles.
Despite the growing challenge, few SMEs have expanded preventive measures. Just 28% of firms actively foster an open feedback culture, down from 35% in 2023. Initiatives targeting physical health—such as nutrition, exercise, and supervisor training—remain stagnant at low levels, with 14% and 11% adoption, respectively. A quarter of SMEs reported taking no specific steps to address mental health-related absenteeism.
The findings underscore the dual pressures facing Swiss SMEs: rising operational costs tied to absences and persistent gaps in preventive workplace strategies.
