For employers
Calculate the cost of sickness absence (Belgium)
What does absence due to sickness cost your company per year? For employers and HR: enter the number of FTE, the salary cost and the absence rate and see the estimated annual cost, per FTE and per absence day. For a single period of sickness, use guaranteed salary.
Cost of absence
| Breakdown | Amount |
|---|
Calculation: number of FTE × salary cost per month × 12 × absence rate × continued pay, plus replacement costs. Absence days: 261 working days × absence rate.
Explanation: calculate the cost of sickness absence (Belgium)
The cost of sickness absence can be estimated by multiplying your employees’ salary cost by the absence rate, plus the costs of replacement. Bear in mind that a salaried employee receives guaranteed salary from the employer for the first 30 days and that the health insurance fund pays after that; with a lot of long-term absence the employer therefore bears a smaller part of the salary cost. For a single period of sickness, use the calculator guaranteed salary.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the cost of sickness absence?
Multiply the total salary cost per year by the absence rate and by the share the employer pays during sickness. Add the replacement costs. Example: 10 salaried employees with €5,000 salary cost per month, 5% absence and 100% paid by the employer gives €30,000 a year.
What share of the absence does the employer pay?
For a salaried employee, the employer pays the first 30 calendar days of guaranteed salary. After that, the health insurance fund pays a benefit. Since 2026, employers with 50 or more employees pay a solidarity contribution in months 2 and 3 in certain cases. In the calculator, enter the share that on average remains payable by the employer for your absence.
What is a normal absence rate?
No official Belgian average per employer is included in this calculator. Preferably use your own figure from the HR records or the annual report of your social secretariat.
What is not included in this calculation?
Not included are, among others, the costs of the external prevention service, reintegration programmes, loss of production above the salary cost and the exact solidarity contribution.
Note: indicative, not advice
This calculation is an indication based on general statutory rules and 2026 rates and does not constitute tax, legal or payroll advice. Indicative: not insurance advice and not a sectoral (joint committee) calculation. A salaried employee receives 30 days of guaranteed salary; after that the health insurance fund pays, and what remains for the employer is mainly replacement and possibly the solidarity contribution. Not included: external prevention service, reintegration, loss of production above the salary cost and blue-collar workers (different guaranteed salary scheme). No rights can be derived from this result.
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Sources & values used
| Item | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Formula | FTE × salary cost/month × 12 × absence% × employer share% (+ replacement%) | model |
| Salary cost from gross salary | Salary cost calculation engine 2026 (social security 32.43%, double holiday pay, year-end bonus 100%) | RSZ/ONSS 2026/3 |
| Guaranteed salary for salaried employees | 30 calendar days paid by the employer | socialsecurity.be |
| Absence rate | input (no official national figure used) | input |
| Working days per year | 261 (5-day week) | assumption |
- Social Security (socialsecurity.be) – Incapacity for work and guaranteed salary (in Dutch)
- FPS Employment – Reinforced return-to-work policy: what changes from 1 January 2026? (in Dutch)
- RSZ – Administrative instructions: solidarity contribution for incapacity for work (from 1-1-2026) (in Dutch)
- RSZ/ONSS – Administrative instructions 2026/3: social security contributions (basic contribution, wage moderation, special contributions) (in Dutch)
Checked on 6 October 2026.