Neunkirchen County tops in health-related issues among all counties.
In the district of Neunkirchen, Saarland, sickness rates surpassed the regional and national averages last year, according to data from health insurance provider BARMER. The report, based on sickness reports of their insured employees, indicates that 7.6% of employees in Neunkirchen were absent due to illness in 2022, compared to 7.1% for the state and 6.2% nationwide.
On average, 76 out of every 1,000 employees in Neunkirchen were unable to work each day in 2022. Ulrich Jene, Regional Manager of BARMER in Illingen, highlighted these concerning figures. The statistics reveal that a resident of Neunkirchen missed work due to illness for an average of 27.7 days in 2022, contrasting with 25.9 days statewide and 22.7 days nationwide.
Although each employed person in the district reported sick an average of 1.9 times, similar to the state and national averages, the primary cause in Neunkirchen was respiratory illnesses such as coughs or colds, accounting for 5.7 days of absence per employee. Other leading causes included musculoskeletal disorders like back pain (5.4 days), mental health issues, including depression (4.9 days), and injuries such as sprains (2.8 days).
Jene attributed the increase in mental health issues to the demographic change of the workforce and the skilled labor shortage, emphasizing the role of occupational health management in preventing such issues. He noted the decreasing trend in flu and cold waves in spring 2021, but this changed as human contacts returned to normal post-COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction of telephone sick leave during the pandemic had only a minimal impact on the sickness rate.
To tackle the high sickness rate in Neunkirchen, companies and healthcare providers are encouraged to take proactive measures to improve the health and well-being of employees. This might involve strategies such as environmental improvements, robust workplace safety, and community support programs. By addressing respiratory illnesses, mental health issues, and occupational health problems, it's possible to mitigate the factors contributing to the current sickness rate.
- Due to the high prevalence of respiratory conditions like coughs or colds, Neunkirchen's workforce faces a higher sickness rate in comparison to the state and nationwide averages, according to BARMER's report.
- Emphasizing the role of proactive measures, Ulrich Jene, Regional Manager of BARMER in Illingen, suggests addressing mental health issues, a leading cause of employee absence in Neunkirchen.
- To improve the overall health and wellness of the workforce in Neunkirchen, it's essential to implement strategies that focus on environmental improvements, robust workplace safety, and community support programs, in an effort to combat both mental health issues and respiratory conditions.
