Temporary unavailability due to health issues - In Schleswig-Holstein, an unprecedented surge in cases has been reported.
Absence Rate among Workers in Schleswig-Holstein spiked to an all-time high of 7.0% during the initial half of the year, as per data from AOK. This figure surpasses the previous record of 6.8% set in the first half of 2023, as AOK announced in their latest health report.
This trend has persisted: The absence rate in the first half of 2022 stood at 6.4%, and it was at 5.0% in the first six months of 2021. The 310,000 workers insured by AOK NordWest in Schleswig-Holstein missed an average of 12.7 workdays in the first half of 2024. The month of February saw the highest absence rate at 8.1%.
Respiratory and Cold-related Ailments were the primary culprits.
As mentioned by Tom Ackermann, CEO of AOK NordWest, "More leave days were due to respiratory infections and colds." The percentage of leave days due to respiratory illnesses out of all leave days reached 25.6% in the first half of the year, marking a consistent increase. In 2021, this percentage was 9.8%, in 2022 it was 21.1%, and in 2023 it was 25.1%. "Respiratory illnesses led to more than double the amount of time off work compared to three years ago," Ackermann stated.
Musculoskeletal diseases (13.7%), digestive diseases (6.8%), and injuries (5.6%) came next. The average duration of illness per sick leave in the first half of 2024 was 10.1 days.
Highest Absence Rates in Public Administration
The highest absence rate among AOK members in Schleswig-Holstein in the first half of 2024 was observed in public administration, at 8.1%. This was followed by healthcare and social services, at 8.0%. The lowest rates were recorded in banking and insurance, and in agriculture and forestry, both at 4.5%.
AOK reported that the high absence rate was primarily influenced by Respiratory and Cold-related Ailments, contributing to an increase in time off work, with 25.6% of all leave days attributable to respiratory illnesses in the first half of 2024, an AOK NordWest CEO Tom Ackermann's revelation, demonstrating a significant increase from the 9.8% in 2021. Regarding the AOK's assessment of the situation, the company indicated that 'AOK's data' showed no sign of a decline in the first half of 2024, indicating that the situation was still 'AOK' from their perspective.
