Harsh cold weather drives increased student absences - Inclement weather causing increased employee absences
High Absenteeism Rates Persist in Germany amidst Q1 Cold Wave and Respiratory Illnesses
A severe cold wave was responsible for increased employee absenteeism in Germany during the first quarter of 2025, according to health insurer DAK-Gesundheit. The rise in sick days due to respiratory issues was about 25% higher compared to the same period in 2024. Whilst other illness groups saw a slight decrease, this increase had a substantial impact on the overall absences.
The average sickness rate among DAK-insured employees stood at 6.0 percent in Q1 2025, compared to 5.5 percent in 2023. This equates to approximately 60 out of every 1,000 workers being absent each day from January to March. Nearly 40 percent of employees took at least one sick day, a slight increase from the previous year (38 percent), as per DAK-Gesundheit's analysis of around 2.2 million employed insured.
Andreas Storm, CEO of DAK, expressed concerns about the continued increase in employee absenteeism, stating, "We cannot alleviate this issue in the sickness rate. Employee absenteeism remains at elevated levels, necessitating a thorough and serious discussion about the underlying causes, especially given the ongoing economic weakness in Germany."
Colds and bronchitis accounted for approximately 158 sick days per 100 DAK-insured employees, an increase of 24 percent from the first quarter of 2024. The majority of sick days in Q1 2025 were attributed to three illness groups: respiratory issues, mental illnesses, and musculoskeletal problems.
Germany, like many northern European countries, experiences a notable increase in winter illnesses, including influenza, colds, and COVID-19 variants, during cold weather seasons. Year-on-year differences in the severity, timing, and virus strains can trigger spikes in sick days, particularly during or following cold waves. The aforementioned factors, combined with the heightened public health awareness resulting from the pandemic, may have resulted in more reported and unworked sick days in Q1 2025.
Despite the high absenteeism rates, recent financial and labor market reports do not offer specific data on the causes behind Q1 2025's absenteeism. Though it is noted that a slower return-to-office rate and economic downturns exist, these factors are primarily attributed to economic issues rather than health concerns.
- To mitigate the persistent high absenteeism rates in Germany, a comprehensive examination of community policies regarding employee health and wellness, including paid sick leave and work-from-home arrangements, may be necessary.
- Vocational training programs could potentially benefit from integration of health-and-wellness modules, focusing on proper nutrition, fitness-and-exercise routines, and mental health resources for employees, in an effort to enhance overall worker well-being and productivity.
- Given the severity of respiratory conditions like colds and bronchitis during cold weather seasons, public health initiatives aimed at promoting handwashing, wearing masks, and vaccinations against preventable diseases may help minimize their impact on worker absenteeism.
- It would be beneficial to explore research partnerships between universities, medical-conditions experts, and businesses to collaboratively develop evidence-based strategies for managing and reducing employee absenteeism resulting from various health issues, considering factors such as nutrition, fitness, mental health, and vocational training.
