In many industries, there is a shortage of workers, so overtime often occurs. But the extra work can make you sick. Many employees are already noticing this.
Munich – When the working day is over, but the work is not yet done, overtime occurs. Situations arise on their own in everyday life, for example when other employees are sick or on vacation. The work does not become less during the absence of colleagues, but simply has to be done by fewer people.
In many sectors, the labour market is developing in a direction in which more and more burden is being distributed over fewer and fewer shoulders. The most prominent example is care. In a survey, almost half of those surveyed said they were affected by the consequences of the staff shortage.
Almost half of the workers feel the consequences of the staff shortage: "Exhausted"
Those affected are therefore under strong pressure to meet deadlines and perform, work overtime and miss breaks. "The workload increases very sharply with the intensity of the experienced staff shortage," says the DAK study "Health Risk Staff Deficiency".
Pressure at work and overtime can have an impact on physical health. (Symbolic image) © Monique Wüstenhagen/dpa
The fact that staffing levels are far too thin anyway or that vacancies are not filled is something that almost every second employee in Bavaria regularly experiences – often even with serious consequences for their own health. "More than half of the employees are completely exhausted, many suffer from complaints such as headaches," says the current health report of the health insurance company DAK Bayern. As a result, many employees appear sick at work themselves.
In Brandenburg, the situation is at least as drastic. According to the press portal, two-thirds of those surveyed there have already gone to work sick. "Constant staff shortages must alert us, because overload can have a decisive impact on health," said Anke Grubitz, head of DAK-Gesundheit in Brandenburg, on the effects of the staff shortage.
Overtime and staff shortages: Stress often continues even after hours
Even in their free time, those affected cannot really switch off and refrain from activities such as sports or other hobbies because there is simply not enough time or employees feel too exhausted from work. Even the family is often neglected according to the DAK report. In the long run, this is also physically noticeable.
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Employees should therefore not simply put up with overtime and insist on their rights, experts advise – there is no obligation to work overtime. If overtime is worked, it should be listed in detail in order to be able to record and prove it.
Overtime due to staff shortages: Even working less often does not reduce the pressure
Some employees also reduce their working hours, but this often increases the pressure. When employees feel overworked, another phenomenon can occur that is becoming more and more common – regulation only after work, also called quiet quitting.
According to the DAK, in order to improve the situation, more than just individual measures are needed, instead the concept must be renewed. Occupational health management still has a lot of untapped potential. "Provided that all those involved are willing to open up new ways and use the existing offers," explains the DAK state director. (Kiba/dpa)
