Status: 15.01.2024, 12:00 noon
By: Franziska Kaindl
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Mental health problems among employees are a growing problem for companies. However, employees' trust in their employer can have positive effects.
The number of workers absent from work due to mental illness increased by 2012 percent from 2022 to 48. This is shown by the Absenteeism Report 2023 of the Scientific Institute (Wido) of the AOK. For all other diseases, there was an increase of 35 percent.
In addition: "Compared to other illnesses, mental illnesses are often accompanied by particularly long absences," says Johanna Baumgardt, Head of Research for Workplace Health Promotion at Wido. In 2022, mental illness would have led to an average of 29.6 days of absence per case, while respiratory illnesses would have resulted in 7.1 days. Across all diseases, the average in 2022 was 11.3 AU times per case.
In which industries are particularly frequently affected by mental illness
In health professions, absenteeism due to mental illness is particularly common (symbolic image). © BSIP/Imago
According to the report, the most absenteeism days due to mental illness are recorded in the health and social care professions. 14 percent of all professional absences were due to mental health problems. This was followed by employees in public administration and social security as well as banks and insurance companies with 13 percent each. Across all occupational groups, the nationwide average of sick leave due to mental illness was ten percent.
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Fewer sick days for employees who believe their company is fit for the future
In a representative survey in February 2023, 45 percent of employees said that they consider their company to be fit for the future. "This is a very pleasing result, because we have also found that there is a clear correlation between a positive assessment of the future viability of the company and the health of its employees," says Baumgardt. For example, employees who considered their company to be prepared for the future were less sick with an average of 11.6 days of absence than employees who rated the future viability of their company worse. They had an average of 16.2 days of absence.