There was a huge outcry when a short presentation was shown at a works meeting at the car manufacturer Volkswagen. Its content: The high level of sickness at VW – and the associated costs for the employer.
Just a few days later, Tesla‘s health – or rather non-health – hit the headlines. At the US car company, too, the sickness rate at the German plant was so high that individual employees who were on sick leave were checked.
High levels of absenteeism – a problem that doesn’t just affect the automotive industry. The number of sick days has been rising steadily since 2008. Previous highlight: Almost 23 sick days per employee in 2022. Is working today making you sicker? And how can this upward trend be stopped?
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At the big prevention summit, BILD spoke to one of the country’s most important occupational physicians: Dr. LarsNeighbor (51), Chief Health and Safety Officer of the VW Group and with his team responsible for almost 670,000 employees worldwide. He says to BILD: “The problems here at the VW Group are the same as those in the entire population. The reasons for absenteeism across the entire industry are primarily diseases of the musculoskeletal system, followed by respiratory diseases and psychological problems, with the increase in absenteeism due to respiratory diseases being particularly noticeable.”
Why even healthy people stay at home
But what do absenteeism actually measure? “In the end, we measure absences, not illness,” says Dr. Lars neighbor. “One thing is clear – and this is important to me: anyone who is sick is sick and has to recover. But not everyone who shows up to work is healthy and not everyone who stays at home is sick. That would be too easy. Many of us make a decision in bed in the morning: Do I go to work or not? The so-called bed edge decision. And that depends to a large extent on so-called soft factors: What is the relationship like with my superiors and colleagues? How satisfied am I with my work and the working environment? How loyal am I to my employer? What is my work ethic? What actually happens if I don’t go to work? Some of these can be influenced by the employer – but not all.”
Health is very important to the car manufacturer, VW has taken a lot of precautions. There is a psychological service, ergonomic workplaces and the team of Dr. Neighbor. “Our health check-up offers all colleagues comprehensive preventative care with extensive tests and examinations.”
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There is an invitation system for employees to check-up. Heart risk factors are determined there, Colon cancer prevention is being operated on, liver and kidney values are being examined. The center even has its own laboratory. “Individualized prevention” is what Dr. Neighbor’s goal and wants to align the group’s healthcare system more closely with it.
The health system is sick
It is rare for the company doctor to sit directly at the workplace. The Occupational Safety Act stipulates that every company with one or more employees must have a company doctor. But many small companies have a company doctor, but many employees don’t know who he is. This is also a problem according to Dr. Neighbor.
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But much more: “We see our employees regularly, including those who do not have any acute symptoms but do have risks or are beginning to become ill. Especially young and middle-aged men. For example, if we detect heart disease in a colleague, a real odyssey begins for them. Because we occupational physicians are neither allowed to treat nor refer him. We’re not even allowed to prescribe medication, even though we know many people better than their own family doctor.”
This means: The patient has to go to his family doctor so that he can refer him to a cardiologist. A real problem in times of a shortage of doctors and appointments. According to the German Foundation for Patient Protection, people with statutory health insurance tend to wait 30 days or longer for a doctor’s appointment.
“Many diseases often become chronic after six weeks without adequate treatment. So while the patient is waiting at home for an appointment or therapy, his suffering increases. And that shouldn’t be allowed to happen..”
So more power for company doctors? Dr. Neighbor: “You should think about occupational medicine. We care about people, have their trust – and can fill gaps in the system if we are considered and legitimized. This also means that politicians should consider how the possibilities and performance of occupational medicine can be used or included. Because it’s about helping people avoid many serious or later chronic illnesses through early care – and improving health care in Germany.”
On October 16th, BILD invites experts to the BILD pension summit at the Axel Springer House in Berlin
Photo: IMAGE
