Sickness absence in nursing: increase of more than 44 percent in eleven years
27.04.2023 15:49
Never before have care workers been on sick leave as often as last year: three out of four employees who provide professional care reported incapacity for work at least once in 2022. Overall, they were canceled on 8.8 percent of all working days, more often than ever before. In 2021, this share was 7.2 percent and eleven years ago it was even 6.1 percent. This means that the sickness rate in nursing has increased by 44.2 percent in the past eleven years. This is shown by a current analysis of the incapacity for work data from the AOK Federal Association.
“The demands on care have increased in recent years. In addition, there are burdens caused by the ongoing shortage of personnel. This often comes at the expense of the employees’ health,” says Dr. Carola Reimann, Chairwoman of the AOK Federal Association, on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28th. But only healthy nurses could provide good care. That's why the AOK is supporting more and more care facilities with company health promotion (BGF) offers. “Basically, it is important to finally tackle necessary reforms in the hospital and care sector. This is the basis for improving working conditions and organization in nursing,” emphasizes Reimann, also with a view to tomorrow’s first reading of the Nursing Support and Relief Act (PUEG) in the Bundestag.
The comparison of sick leave with other professional groups shows: The almost 700,000 AOK-insured nursing employees had an average of 32 days of incapacity for work (AU days) per AOK member last year, which is eight days absent (30.6 percent) above the average for all Professionals insured with AOK.
Employees in nursing professions were most frequently on sick leave due to respiratory diseases. The number of cases with this diagnosis has more than doubled compared to 2021. Statistically, almost every carer has received this diagnosis once and stayed at home for an average of eight days. In comparison: it took an average of 20 days to recover from a musculoskeletal disorder and around 33 days to cure a mental illness.
Offers for company health promotion
The aim of the BGF is to strengthen the health potential of employees and prevent work-related illnesses. “We support people in nursing professions in their responsible work through intensive company health promotion,” says Reimann and adds: “Last year we increased our commitment as part of the 'Nursing.Forces.Strengths.' further strengthened and specifically addressed to nursing facilities and hospitals with various digital and hybrid WHP offers.” According to the 2020 Absence Report, employees who feel comfortable and valued at work are less likely to get sick. Good teamwork and a good working atmosphere are therefore important factors that contribute to maintaining the health of employees.
Last year - despite the ongoing pandemic-related access restrictions - the AOK was active in over 1,500 facilities nationwide, 200 more than in the previous year. Most of the companies that were supported by the AOK in planning or implementing WHP measures were nursing homes (63.4 percent). One in five facilities was a hospital and 16 percent were in the outpatient sector. More than 560 measures were initiated in 2022 to improve work design, work organization, communication and information. The AOK has supported almost 700 facilities with activities that sensitize nurses and managers to health issues and teach healthy behavior.
“This year we are once again focusing more on health promotion in nursing professions. With personal advice and needs-based WHP offers, we support care facilities and hospitals in protecting and promoting their employees within the framework of prevention and health programs,” says the AOK board member. The offerings range from resilience training to concepts for age-appropriate work and support for healthy diversity management.