Harsh winter temperatures persistently cause increased student and staff absences. - Persistent cold weather contributing significantly to elevated employee absenteeism rates.
Enhanced Article: Raised Absenteeism in Germany Due to Respiratory Illnesses Amidst Cold Waves
A prolonged cold wave contributed to an uptick in respiratory illnesses and subsequent high absenteeism among employees in Germany during the first quarter of the year. Comparatively, employees reported nearly a quarter more sick days due to respiratory problems compared to the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, incidents of other health issues experienced minor decreases, offsetting the rise to a considerable extent.
According to statistics provided by DAK, the sickness rate among insured workers stood at 6.0 percent in the first three months, a 0.1 percentage point increase from the prior year (5.5 percent). This translates to an average of 60 employees out of 1,000 reporting sick each day, in January through March.
As per an analysis of approximately 2.2 million DAK-covered workers, almost 40 percent of them took at least one sick day – a slight increase compared to the previous year (38 percent).
Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit, expressed concern about the persistently high sickness rate. "We cannot declare victory over the issue of employee absenteeism," he stated. "It remains unacceptably high, and we need an open and in-depth discussion on the underlying causes, as Germany's ongoing economic weakness places additional emphasis on this issue."
Respiratory ailments, including common colds and bronchitis, accounted for a total of around 158 sick days per 100 DAK-insured employees – 31 days more than in the first quarter of 2024, equating to a 24 percent increase.
The first quarter's primary causes of employee sickness were respiratory issues, mental health problems such as depression, and musculoskeletal problems, such as back pain.
Factors contributing to the increased incidence of respiratory illnesses during cold waves include cold stress weakening the immune system, the prevalence of respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV during colder months, dry air irritating respiratory tracts, increased air pollution from heating systems, increased indoor exposure to pathogens, delayed healthcare due to cold weather, and behavioral changes leading to decreased resistance to illnesses. Employees in certain industries or roles may be particularly vulnerable if they work outdoors or in poorly ventilated settings.
While healthcare coverage can impact the promptness with which employees seek medical attention, it is essential to address the environmental factors, viral prevalence, and individual health behaviors contributing to the increased absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses during cold waves.
- The community policy could focus on providing vocational training programs to improve the overall health and wellness of employees, particularly emphasizing respiratory-conditions, as these were the primary causes of absences during the first quarter.
- To address the high absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses, it would be beneficial to include fitness-and-exercise and nutrition guidance as part of the vocational training programs to improve the resilience of employees against viruses during cold waves.
- Given the connection between respiratory illnesses and susceptibility to colds and bronchitis during cold waves, vocational training could also cover health-and-wellness topics like science and medical-conditions, to provide employees with a better understanding of their bodies and how to maintain optimal health.
- Furthermore, as mental health issues like depression were also significant causes of absenteeism in the first quarter, it would be worthwhile to incorporate mental-health awareness and coping strategies into the vocational training curriculum to improve the overall well-being of employees.
