One sick leave avoided, one company saved

One sick leave avoided, one company saved

My neighbor is a truck driver for a hardware store, and he’s one of those guys who never complains. But that day, after unloading some bags of cement, something “cracked” in his back.

“It’s nothing,” he said.

Twenty days later, he couldn’t even tie his shoelaces. The back pain became unbearable. He was on his way to sick leave.

Until he came to the clinic. In the first session, we realigned his vertebrae, released the muscle spasm… and two days later he was back behind the wheel. Back to work. Back to living without pain.

The moral of the story: don’t wait for the pain to scream. Treat it when it’s just a whisper.

The reality of sick leave in Spain

In 2024, Spain recorded more than 5.24 million cases of sick leave due to common contingencies, 10.3% more than the previous year. These cases lasted an average of 41 days, accumulating more than 215 million lost working days between January and July alone.

Musculoskeletal disorders (low back pain, back pain, hernias, etc.) accounted for 1 in 3 cases. These were followed by mental disorders (anxiety, burnout, depression), which have doubled in incidence since 2017.

According to the Bank of Spain, the proportion of workers on temporary disability leave has risen from 2.7% (2019) to 4.4% (2024), widespread across all regions and sectors.

Hotel sector: the epicenter of absenteeism

In places such as the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, the problem is exacerbated. In the hotel sector in southern Tenerife (Arona and Adeje), absenteeism has reached 20% or more in the high season.

Main causes:

• Physical overload: Housekeepers suffer from lower back pain and other chronic injuries from lifting beds, bending over, and pushing heavy carts.
• Work-related stress: Long hours, changing shifts, and constant pressure affect mental health.
• Staff shortages: This forces the employees who are present to work harder, creating a vicious circle.
• Expensive housing and transportation: Many employees have to travel long distances, which increases exhaustion.

Economic cost of absenteeism

The impact is not only personal. It is also economic:

• Spending on temporary disability benefits in 2024 exceeded €15 billion, 78.5% more than in 2019.
• Companies assumed €4.613 billion in wage supplements and replacements.
• In hotels, the additional labor cost due to sick leave reaches up to 25% extra compared to the initial budget.

Physical therapy: an effective and cost-effective solution

Let’s go back to my neighbor’s case. A timely session prevented him from taking 40 days off work. The same logic can be applied in companies:

• Early intervention = fewer days off work.
• Less medication. Fewer relapses.
• Better quality of life for the worker.

In the case of the hotel sector, many hotels are already taking measures:

Real examples:

• Hiring physical therapists for staff.
• Agreements with clinics for preventive sessions.
• Introduction of adjustable beds and ergonomic carts.
• Stretching, yoga, and stress management classes.

Measures in place in Tenerife South

Internal reorganization:

Rotating shifts, support between departments, and cross-training to cover gaps.

Temporary hiring:

Although this increases costs, it allows services to be maintained. Some chains have created pools of substitutes.

Automation and technical aids:

The Canary Islands Government subsidizes the purchase of adjustable beds and ergonomic cleaning carts.

Well-being programs:

Such as “Lopesan Vita,” with health challenges, emotional support, and access to physical therapy.

Shared transportation:

Free buses connect Santa Cruz and other towns with hotels in the south, reducing the stress of commuting.

Housing for employees:

Spring Hotels has acquired properties to create affordable rental housing for its staff.

Changes in labor agreements

In 2025, the Tenerife hospitality agreement introduced a new clause: employees must now have 12 months’ seniority to receive 100% of their salary during sick leave. The aim is to discourage short-term sick leave among new staff.

A pilot project has also been set up with the Canary Islands Government to improve recovery and return-to-work processes.

Pain waits for no one

Lower back pain is not just simple pain. It is one of the main causes of sick leave in Spain. And most importantly, much of it is preventable.

The case of the truck driver is just one example. What physical therapy did for him can also be done for dozens of hotel workers, housekeepers, cooks, and receptionists.

Prevention is care. And care is savings.

In a sector such as tourism, where every person counts, caring for occupational health means protecting the quality of the destination.

Sources:

• Ministry of Social Security
• Bank of Spain
• Hosteltur
• CEHAT / Ashotel
• Cadena SER / Canarias7
• Trade union reports

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Do you manage a hotel or tourism business?
Perhaps it’s time to integrate physical therapy into your workplace strategy. Preventing sick leave can be cheaper than covering it.