- The count of ailing youngsters at the welfare facility exceeds the usual norm.
Due to frequently occurring illnesses among Kita staff, they take more sick days than other professionals, as per recent studies. In 2023, childcare workers missed work due to illness for approximately 29 days on average, contrasting the 20-day average for all other professions, as reported by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Professional Forum, which represents professionals in the sector.
Moreover, the number of sick days for kindergarten teachers increased by 26% between 2021 and 2023, primarily due to psychological stress.
The Foundation, which also provides advice to the Professional Forum, mostly relies on data from DAK, a health insurance company that insures 12.2% of childcare workers. Other health insurance companies' figures also support this trend.
Anette Stein, a kindergarten expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation, warns of a vicious cycle. "Many kindergartens are trapped in a vicious cycle due to the rise in sick leave. This leads to more specialists leaving, which further increases the workload for the remaining staff," she says. "Quality early childhood education, care, and nurturing cannot be maintained in many places."
According to data from Techniker health insurance company, the most common reasons for sick leave were respiratory infections and mental health issues. To cover the absences due to illness, holidays, and training, the Foundation estimates that approximately 97,000 full-time specialists are required. The annual cost would be around 5.8 billion euros, which could potentially stabilize the staff situation temporarily, according to the Foundation's calculations.
The Professional Forum describes the national kindergarten staff situation as critical. There's a shortage of qualified candidates and funding for substitute staff in many places. The high sick leave rates require teams to compensate, affecting the availability of specialists for training and increasing psychological stress or leading to their departure from the profession.
Therefore, there's a call for a nationwide, legally-anchored, and standardized funding for qualified substitute staff to cover all types of absences. Unfortunately, there's no reliable regulation in many federal states at present.
The high sick leave rates among Kita staff have raised concerns about the continuity of quality education. Regular absences necessitate a significant number of qualified substitutes, emphasizing the importance of investing in education and training for backup personnel.
Addressing the education and mental health needs of Kita workers could potentially reduce the prevalence of sick days and improve their overall well-being, resulting in a more stable workforce.
