Finnish Doctor Says Common Reason for Sick Leave Is a Myth

HELSINKI — A leading Finnish doctor says many people have the wrong idea about why workers take sick leave. Dr. Anita Riipinen, a top occupational health physician, says the debate in Finland is "broken" and full of myths.

What People Say

When you look at social media or news, you might think short sick leaves are out of control. People talk about "fatigue leave," "breathing space leave," and even "pissed-off leave". These are informal names for taking time off work when you feel tired or stressed, not physically sick.

What the Doctor Says

Dr. Riipinen says these ideas are wrong. She works at Terveystalo, a large health company in Finland.

The doctor explains that a medical certificate is not an order. It is an expert opinion. The employer decides what to do next.

If the certificate says an employee can do lighter work, the employer should find suitable tasks. The employee does not have to stay home if there is work they can still do.

The Real Numbers

The facts do not support the idea that sick leave is out of control.

In 2025, the average number of sick leave days per worker in Finland was 9.7. About 44 percent of employees took no sick leave at all.

Mental health-related sick leave also went down in 2025. It fell by 7 percent compared to the year before. This saved about 100,000 working days and nearly 42 million euros for companies.

Why This Matters

Every day a worker is absent costs an organisation about 420 euros on average, according to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

Dr. Riipinen says employers have more power than they think. They can offer lighter work instead of full sick leave. This helps workers recover faster and saves money.

"Continuing to work is also financially beneficial for the employee," the article notes.

A Cultural Change

The doctor says this is a cultural choice. Management must clearly tell all staff that they will try lighter work first before granting full sick leave.

Supervisors often hesitate to discuss this because they fear sounding cold. But with clear rules and ready-made discussion templates, it becomes easier.

Bottom Line

Dr. Riipinen wants people to stop calling short sick leaves "fatigue leave" or "breathing space leave." The real issue is not workers taking too much time off. The real issue is that employers are not using lighter work options enough.