Sick leave in East Hesse: positive development despite challenges!

Sick leave in East Hesse: positive development despite challenges!

In 2024, sick leave in East Hesse remains stable at 5.9 percent. This shows a current analysis of DAK health. The number of absent days per 100 DAK-insured employees fell to around 2152, which represents a decrease of 0.2 percent compared to the previous year. It should be emphasized particularly positively that the absenteeism has decreased due to respiratory problems and muscle skeleton diseases compared to the previous year. Christian Beser, the head of DAK health in Fulda, describes this stability as a positive signal for the region.

The main causes for the absent days are respiratory diseases and muscle skeleton diseases. The following numbers result in detail:

causes of illness and developments in Hesse

The DAK points out that most of the absent days in Hesse are also due to respiratory diseases, muscle-skeletal problems and mental illnesses. In 2024, muscle skeleton diseases ensured 351 absenteeism per 100 insured persons, which corresponds to a decline of 8.2 percent compared to the previous year. In the case of the respiratory diseases, there were also a decrease of 7.9 percent with 434 absence per 100 insured persons.

Britta Dalhoff, the head of the DAK health in Hesse, emphasizes that luckily there is no dynamic in sick leave as it did three years ago. The significant increase in 2022 can partly be seen as a unique reporting effect, which made around 60 percent of the climb.

medical certificates and the working atmosphere

Another interesting detail is that 53 percent of employees in Hesse present a medical certificate for every shortage, although only 14 percent need this from the first day of the first day. The DAK sees this as a sign of a culture of no confidence in companies. Tatahl Dalhoff warns that distrust in companies has a counterproductive effect and the performance of the employees can inhibit.

DAK health therefore recommends occupational health management (BGM) to improve working conditions and actively involve employees in the change process. This could help reduce work -related stress and thus promote the satisfaction and health of the employees.

The psychological stress in the workplace is another aspect that should not be ignored. Stress leads to serious emotional and mental problems. In the European Union, an estimated around 50 million people are affected by depression, exhaustion and addiction. This problem is often socially taboo and has a negative impact on prevention and healing measures.