High sickness rate in the Thuringian police force
More than one in ten police officers in Thuringia was off sick last year. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the sickness rate for police officers in 2022 was around 12.2 percent, and 10.4 percent for police employees. After a slight decline in 2021, the negative trend of recent years has thus continued, explained Raymond Walk, interior politician for the CDU parliamentary group in Erfurt. He called for an analysis of the causes of this development.
A survey conducted by the police union (GdP) in 2017 had already revealed that 94% of Thuringian police employees felt either mentally or physically stressed. The main reason cited at the time was a lack of personnel, while other reasons included increasing stress or demands, criticism of superiors and organizational deficiencies. In Walk's opinion, there is also a lack of appreciation for the work of the police, which is also reflected in an increase in crimes against police officers.
"The fact is that only 85 percent of all posts in the Thuringian police force are currently filled," said the CDU MP. He called on the state government to "finally take a closer look at the reasons and possible solutions". He suggested commissioning a state-wide study. This could form the basis for suitable health management that takes into account the interests of those affected as well as their superiors and the organization. Walk: "In my opinion, however, it is not enough to simply hire a health manager."
The CDU parliamentary group in Erfurt, led by interior politician Raymond Walk, has urged the state government to investigate the causes of the high sickness rate in the Thuringian police force. This follows the revelation that only 85% of police force posts are currently filled, leading to increased stress and demands on the remaining officers. Additionally, the Police Union's 2017 survey revealed that 94% of Thuringian police employees felt mentally or physically stressed. This situation has led to frequent calls for better appreciation of the police's work and a need for health management solutions, as suggested by Walk. In light of these developments, it's worth noting that the Thuringian police force also faced criticism for an increase in crimes against its officers.
Source: www.dpa.com
