Europe suffers billions in losses due to employees' rising sick leaves

European businesses are losing billions every year due to employees' rising sick leaves, Bloomberg reported. Long-term sickness is taking a nearly £33 billion (₹3,53,745 crore) toll on productivity, a number that could double by the end of the decade, according to Zurich Insurance. As companies struggle with chronic shortages, critics blamed an overly generous welfare system for the absenteeism.