Rhine and Ruhr.
DAK Gesundheit reports 71 percent more sick leave in NRW. Why is it and which sectors are particularly affected.
As soon as the corona pandemic was over, sick leave shot up steeply. In the first half of 2022, 59 of 100 insured persons were on sick leave, according to a study by the DAK-Gesundheit der NRZ. In this half year there are already 101 cases. “That’s an enormous increase of 71 percent,” explains Klaus Overdiek, head of the DAK-Gesundheit in NRW.
What is the reason for the increasing number of sick leave?
The main reasons for this are the abolition of hygiene regulations, the obligation to wear masks and the normalization of social life, says AOK press spokesman Jens Kuschel. The issue of staff shortages also plays a decisive role in relation to the increasing sick leave. “A lack of staff can lead to an overload that has a significant impact on health,” explains Overdiek.
“The result is more absenteeism – which further exacerbates the personnel situation. It’s a vicious circle!” continues the DAK country head. In geriatric care and vehicle drivers alone, an employee had an average of 14 days of absence this year, while all other professions together averaged ten days of absence, according to the DAK analysis.
Cases of respiratory diseases doubled
According to the DAK and AOK, the numbers have more than doubled (from 16 to 35 cases per 100 employees), particularly in the case of respiratory diseases such as coughs and colds. A further increase has been noted in musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain. While eight out of 100 employees fell ill last year, the number of musculoskeletal disorders this year was twelve.
“We can say with certainty that sick leave in NRW also rose sharply in the first half of 2023 and is significantly higher than comparable sick leave in previous years,” says Kuschel. Above all, respiratory infections would have caused people in NRW a lot of trouble. In the list of absenteeism days, respiratory diseases are even ahead of the all-time leader of muscular and skeletal diseases and psyche, according to Kuschel.
Overdiek does not have a patent solution ready either – but at least one piece of advice: The companies concerned should invest more in company health management.
More articles from this category can be found here: Niederrhein
2023-08-15 16:04:39
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