- Teachers in Brandenburg frequently experience health issues.
Brandenburg's nurseries and daycare centers have been identified as having some of the highest rates of employee sick leave across the nation, according to research. Workers in these facilities were, on average, absent due to illness for 35 days in 2023, compared to approximately 30 days nationally, as per a study by the Bertelsmann Foundation. Berlin has employees who take more time off, with an average of around 36 days. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is roughly on par with Brandenburg. The sick leave rate in Brandenburg was also higher than the national average of around 8%. The study analyzed data from health insurance provider DAK. In 2023, childcare workers most frequently took time off due to respiratory infections and mental health issues.
Nurseries Stuck in a Loop
As per Anette Stein, an early childhood education expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, "Many nurseries are trapped in a self-sustaining cycle: Due to the rising number of sick days, more and more specialists are absent, which further increases the workload for the remaining employees. There's hardly any thought given to providing excellent early childhood nurturing, instruction, and upbringing."
According to the foundation, it's essential to financially support qualified personnel for all absences and establish legal regulations for this purpose. At present, only a few federal states have specific guidelines for reliable replacement coverage.
The study examined various professions within the realm of childcare and education, including day parents/guardians, au pairs, and educators in family homes and children's villages.
The higher sickness status in Brandenburg's nurseries and daycare centers is contributing to a challenging workload for the remaining employees, as more specialists are frequently absent due to illness. To break this cycle and ensure high-quality early childhood nurturing, instruction, and upbringing, it's crucial to financially support qualified personnel during their absences and implement robust legal regulations for reliable replacement coverage.
