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​​The Ministry of Social Affairs has published two studies, one on sickness absence and the other on the occupational disability compensation system, as part of the government's drive to reduce the level of absenteeism at work. The studies suggest that a reformed compensation system should motivate

Sweden’s coalition government has reversed changes to the welfare system made by the previous centre-right government. It has removed a cut-off point of 2.5 years for claiming sickness benefit and scrapped a scheme for mandatory workplace activities for the unemployed. The decision to reverse rather

Legislative changes in Finland regarding sickness absence appear to have boosted the proportion of employees returning to work.

A trust fund has been set up to help Maltese employers pay towards the new statutory 18 weeks maternity leave, after fears that businesses might discriminate against women when recruiting workers. The government will pay 4 weeks of the leave and has ordered employers to contribute to funding the

Parents have called for increases to maternity leave compensation and child benefits in 2016. The National Council for Tripartite Cooperation has rejected such calls and a proposal to bring parental benefits in line with the statutory minimum wage.

The Romanian Parliament has adopted new legal provisions that aim to better protect pregnant women and mothers in the workplace. The new law provides more obligations for the employer in the area of risk prevention in terms of health and safety.

The economic crisis and recent labour reforms in Spain have hindered the development of policies to help employees have a better work–life balance, according to a report released in March 2015. The report, backed by the CCOO union federation, examines existing rights concerning work–life balance and

The number of fatal work accidents has fallen in Germany, although the number of occupational diseases has risen, according to a report released in December 2014. However, the Annual Report on Health and Safety at the Workplace also shows that production lost as a result of sickness leave was worth