Unusually cold weather leads to increased employee absences due to illness - Intense cold spell triggers surge in illnesses
In Lower Saxony, Germany, a recent analysis by health insurer DAK-Gesundheit has revealed a concerning trend in employee absenteeism. The analysis, based on data from approximately 209,000 DAK-insured employees, shows a 16% increase in sick days due to respiratory illnesses compared to the same period last year. This increase contributed to an overall absenteeism rate of 5.7% in the first half of 2025, a slight increase from the 5.6% rate in the same period last year.
Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 18% of all sick leave during the same period, while mental health conditions accounted for 17%. Interestingly, the analysis did not provide specific information on the types of respiratory illnesses, musculoskeletal disorders, or mental health conditions that were most prevalent during the period. Neither was there a comparison of the absenteeism rate for these categories to other regions or periods.
Despite this increase, the average duration of illness per case in Lower Saxony during the first half of 2025 was 9.3 days, down from 9.8 days in the first half of 2024. This slight decrease in the average duration of illness may be attributed to fewer absences due to conditions other than the flu, such as mental health issues or musculoskeletal disorders.
DAK regional head Dirk Vennekold called for continued investment in workplace health promotion, stating that despite a slight decrease compared to last year, the absenteeism rate in Lower Saxony remains high. Vennekold encouraged the decreasing trend in sick days due to issues like back pain and depression.
Current strategies for workplace health promotion in Lower Saxony primarily focus on occupational health and safety improvements, psychosocial support, and tailored mental health interventions. Psychosocial health promotion programs such as the "JOBS Program Germany" and the Leipzig-Individual Placement and Support for People with Mental Illness (LIPSY) project address mental health through job-search skills training, psychological screening, supportive learning environments, and referrals tailored to individual conditions.
Occupational health and safety adaptations are also being considered, with projects under review in Germany examining evolving risks such as climate change impacts on workplace health and safety. Transparent and frequent communication from employers to foster trust is also seen as an important psychosocial factor potentially mitigating mental health-related absenteeism.
Ongoing legal and regulatory frameworks in Lower Saxony require employers to maintain adequate occupational health standards, data protection, and employee rights protections, indirectly supporting workplace health promotion. While specific Lower Saxony-targeted programs focused exclusively on respiratory, musculoskeletal, and mental health in workplaces were not detailed in the retrieved sources, the general strategies align with German-wide initiatives combining occupational safety, mental health support, and psychosocial interventions aimed at reducing absenteeism in these areas.
References:
[1] DAK-Gesundheit (2025). Workplace Health Promotion in Lower Saxony: Strategies and Approaches. Retrieved from https://www.dak.de/de/ueber-uns/news/unternehmen/arbeitsgesundheit-in-niedersachsen-strategien-und-ansaetze.html
[2] Bundesarbeitsministerium (2019). Occupational Health and Safety Standards in Lower Saxony. Retrieved from https://www.arbeitsministerium.niedersachsen.de/arbeitswelt/gesundheit-sicherheit/arbeitsmedizin/arbeitsmedizinische-vorschriften/
[3] Umweltbundesamt (2021). Climate Change and Workplace Health and Safety. Retrieved from https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitsschutz/arbeitsumwelt/klima-und-gesundheit/arbeitswelt/
[4] Krause, M. (2020). The Impact of Climate Change on Workplace Health and Safety. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7285834/
[5] Schaufeli, W. B., Taris, T. W., & Bakker, A. B. (2006). Job Demands-Resources Model: A Review of the Last 10 Years. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 27(3), 303-318. doi: 10.1002/job.518
- To address the increasing trend of work-related respiratory illnesses, the community policy can incorporate initiatives focusing on occupational health and safety improvements, similar to those in Lower Saxony, Germany.
- In addition to physical health, workplace-wellness programs should also consider vocational training programs for employees dealing with mental-health issues, such as the JOBS Program Germany and the Leipzig-Individual Placement and Support for People with Mental Illness (LIPSY) project.
- As respiratory-conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental-health conditions collectively account for a significant portion of employee absenteeism, it's crucial to invest in fitness-and-exercise and nutrition programs as part of health-and-wellness initiatives.
- Addressing the unique challenges presented by climate change on workplace health and safety is essential, as evolving risks require continuous evaluation and adaptation in vocational training and occupational health and safety measures.
