Workplace leave patterns among Victorian health care workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

We analysed aggregate work absences during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic from two Victorian hospital sites and corresponding individual‐level survey data to understand changes in the rates and types of workplace absence. We found changing reasons for workplace absences as the pandemic progressed and observed higher rates of annual and sick leave during the months coinciding with increased COVID‐19 cases and workforce burnout.