There are certain topics that rarely surface in public discussions, yet come up almost daily in our meetings with member companies. One of them is sick leave. It is not an easy topic, nor one that people are eager to open or discuss. At its core, it is connected to something deeply sensitive, people’s health and their right to be treated with dignity, and it can easily be misunderstood. But precisely for this reason, when the system does not function properly, it is important that we talk about it.
In recent months, an increasing number of companies, both local and international, have begun reporting a pattern that is becoming more visible and recurring. Frequent absences from work, often accompanied by medical certificates, occurring in ways that are unusual yet predictable. Sick leave taken before weekends, after weekends, during certain periods, and in repeating patterns. These are not isolated cases. Nor are they random perceptions. They are signals that something in the system is not working as it should.
Let me be very clear, this is not an initiative to deny anyone their right to sick leave when they genuinely need it, nor is it an accusation toward employees. The vast majority use sick leave only when there is a real need. They are responsible, committed, and carry the main burden of keeping our companies running.
However, the problem arises when the system creates space for misuse. At that point, those who act responsibly begin to feel unfairly treated, while those who misuse the system find it increasingly easy to do so.
At the same time, employers find themselves in a difficult position
The law is clear and must be respected. But in practice, the tools for verification are almost non-existent. A medical certificate is treated as a final document; there is no mechanism to challenge it, no independent body where a case can be reviewed, and above all, there is no transparency beyond a paper document. As a result, a situation is created where suspicion grows, but solutions are lacking.
In all of this, we often overlook a crucial element, the healthcare system itself is placed in a difficult position. Doctors, in the absence of clear guidelines and supporting mechanisms, are exposed to various pressures. Meanwhile, institutions lack the tools to systematically monitor or analyze these practices. And where there is no oversight, room for interpretation inevitably grows.
This issue is not limited to a few companies. It affects how the labor market in Kosovo functions. It affects trust between employers and employees. It affects the credibility of the healthcare system. And ultimately, it affects how Kosovo is perceived by investors.
Because an investor does not only look at the law, they look at how the law is implemented. What is missing today is not the willingness to do better. What is missing are the mechanisms.
A system that ensures transparency, the possibility to review decisions when there are reasonable doubts, a more active role of institutions in monitoring and analysis, and above all, an open dialogue on this topic.
This is not a call to limit rights. On the contrary. It is a call to better protect them. Because a system that allows misuse ultimately harms those who genuinely need support. Sick leave is a right. But how we manage it is a shared responsibility.
And perhaps the time has come to take that responsibility more seriously!
Written by the Executive Director, Besnik Vasolli
Mr. Besnik Vasolli
