Sick leave: Another increase in psychiatric absences
07.11.2023 11:46
From July to September 2023, there were an unusually high number of sickness-related absences from work in Germany for a summer quarter. The sickness rate in the third quarter of 2023 was 5.0 percent, above the already very high level of the previous year's quarter of 4.7 percent. On average, each and every employee had almost five days of absence - even though there was no summer flu wave. A renewed increase in mental illnesses was primarily responsible for the continued very high level of sickness.
According to the absence analysis by DAK-Gesundheit, there were around a quarter more days of absence due to depression or anxiety disorders than in the same quarter of the previous year. The fund expects a new high overall by the end of the year with an average of over 20 days of absence per person. DAK CEO Andreas Storm warns of a vicious circle due to increased sickness and growing staff shortages.
“The aftereffects of the pandemic, the uncertainty in Germany due to the many crises in the world: all of this is putting increasing strain on people’s psyches,” says Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK-Gesundheit. “In addition, many industries are under particular pressure due to a shortage of personnel. The issues of health and mental well-being of employees must be at the top of companies’ agendas. We have to break the vicious circle between increasing sickness and staff shortages." The head of the health insurance company renews his call for a round table under the motto "Combine forces - promote workforces - strengthen companies" with the participation of politicians, social partners and health insurance companies.
Almost a quarter more days of absence due to mental illness
The largest increases were in musculoskeletal problems and mental illness. In the latter group - which also includes depression and anxiety disorders - the number of days lost from work increased by 24.3 percent, from 70 to 87 days of absence per 100 employees. “An increase of a quarter compared to the same quarter last year can be described as dramatic, almost epidemic,” comments Professor Volker Nürnberg on the increase. The expert for corporate health management: “Burnout is the new pandemic! For many employees, not only is the battery empty, but the charging cable is defective.”
Back problems are related to mental tension
The increase in musculoskeletal diseases was 25.2 percent. Here, with 101 days of absence per 100 employees, there was the greatest loss of work overall. Experts assume that many sick notes in this disease group are to some extent related to psychological stress. “You have to know that a lot – up to a third – of mental illnesses are hidden in this group, such as psychosomatic back pain,” emphasizes Volker Nürnberg. “The diverse stresses and mental tension people face are reflected in back problems.”
Forecast: Far more than 20 days of absence per capita by the end of the year
DAK-Gesundheit is forecasting an even greater increase in absenteeism in the fourth quarter and a new annual high due to the upcoming cold season. “Based on our analysis, we assume that in 2023 we will have a total of well over 20 days of absence per employee per year for the first time in many years,” says Andreas Storm. The greatly increased sickness rate is affecting Germany at a time of increasing staff shortages and is closely linked to this. Companies and businesses in Germany should, in their own interest, pay greater attention to the health protection of their employees and invest resources in company health management. In this way, the vicious circle can be broken in order to protect the health of employees and at the same time ensure the economic performance of companies, says Storm.