The Grind of Care Work Takes a Toll on Employees' Health
Healthcare Workers in Various Fields Typically Report More Illnesses Compared to Employees Across Different Industries - Healthcare Workers in the Nursing Field Suffer Illnesses at Higher Rates Compared to Professionals in Other Industries
Care workers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are frequently taking sick days, commonly battling more health issues than their counterparts in other sectors. According to the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), these hardworking individuals missed an average of 32.6 days last year, putting their sick leave at a dangerously high level, far above the national average of 28.5 days.
"It's no secret that care workers are still taking considerably more sick leave compared to other professions," commented TK state manager Manon Austenat-Wied. The health insurer's analysis of sickness records for over 103,000 TK-insured care workers in the northeast revealed an average sick leave of 24.6 days for all occupational groups collectively.
Embracing wellness for a better tomorrow
A day in the life of a care professional is nothing short of remarkable, often coming at the expense of their own health," Austenat-Wied pointed out. She urged care providers to foster a health-conscious and supportive workplace, thereby making the profession even more appealing. "Care workers are the backbone of our aging society," the TK leader stressed, drawing attention to the existing health promotion initiatives.
For the current study, TK scrutinized work incapacity certificates of employed persons insured with them in the northeast region. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, TK provides insurance to nearly 224,000 people and is among the biggest statutory health insurers.
The worker shortage is already a pressing issue
Approximately 21,000 care workers attend to more than 1,000 long-term care facilities and services in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. With over 120,000 individuals needing assistance, the number of those requiring care continues to rise. The "Pact for Care" launched in the state in autumn 2023 aims to retain specialists and ensure care services, even in remote areas, as care facilities have closed in the past due to staffing issues.
CareCare WorkerTKTKKMecklenburg-VorpommernFieldSchwerin
The high sick leave among care workers stems from several factors:
- Heightened Infection Risk: Care workers' exposure to patients makes them more vulnerable to infections, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV, which have shown inflated occurrences post-pandemic due to factors like "untrained immunity" after widespread safety measures.
- Long COVID and Chronic Illness: The persistence of long COVID symptoms among healthcare workers leads to extended absences and higher sickness rates than other professions.
- Intense Workload and Stress Factors: The grueling nature of care work, including physical, emotional, and organizational pressures, impact the health of care workers, contributing to a higher sickness rate.
- Local Factors: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's rural setting, coupled with an older population, may compound the demand on care workers and strain resources, leading to increased illness and absenteeism among care staff compared to national averages.
Though particular, localized data for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was not found in the search results, the general trends suggest that the causes of higher sickness rates among care workers are primarily due to their increased exposure to infections, the ongoing impact of long COVID, and the burdensome conditions of their work environment.
- The Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) suggests that care workers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern could benefit from a workplace-wellness program, focusing on health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and nutrition, to combat the high sickness rates often experienced in their field.
- To address the growing concerns of vocational training and personal health within the care sector, community policy makers could consider implementing science-backed health promotion initiatives alongside vocational training programs for care workers.
- In light of the study's findings on the heightened infection risk, intense workload, and impact of long COVID among care workers, it would be advantageous for employers in the care industry to prioritize workplace wellness, as well as offering vocational training to better prepare and support the workforce.
