- Research reveals a heightened risk of illness among childcare professionals.
Workers in daycare centers in Rhineland-Palatinate took more unexpected leave in 2023 than their counterparts in other jobs. On average, they missed work for around 30 days last year, according to a report by the Bertelsmann Foundation. Across all professions, the average number of days off due to illness was around 21 days.
The foundation often uses data from the DAK health insurance company, which insures 12.2% of workers in childcare nationwide. Other health insurance providers also saw a similar trend.
Specialist: Workload Overload
Nationally, the number of educators taking sick leave increased by 26% between 2021 and 2023, primarily due to mental strain. In Rhineland-Palatinate, 17.4% of sick days in childcare were due to mental health issues. On average, educators had 29.6 sick days nationwide, compared to 20.1 days across all professions.
"Many daycare centers find themselves in a vicious circle: As the number of sick days increases, more specialists are absent, further increasing the workload for the remaining employees," explained Anette Stein, an expert in early childhood education at the Bertelsmann Foundation. "High-quality early childhood education, care, and education are becoming difficult to provide in many places." The foundation suggested a legally binding funding system for skilled personnel to cover all absences.
The increase in sick leave among daycare center workers in Rhineland-Palatinate, primarily due to mental health issues, highlights the importance of prioritizing [Health and safety] in these settings. Addressing the high workload and providing adequate support for specialists could potentially reduce the number of such days off.
