Overworked and Under the Weather: Care Workers' High Sickness Rates Revealed
Healthcare workers experience higher illness rates compared to employees in other industries. - Healthcare Professionals, Specifically Nurses, Face Higher Illness Rates Compared to Workers in Other Industries
Let's talk about the gloomy reality facing care workers—they're more likely to take sick days than their counterparts in other sectors. As per data from the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, care workers ended up missing work due to illness for an average of 32.6 days last year, making their sickness rate sky-high and far exceeding the national average of 28.5 days.
Manon Austenat-Wied, TK's state manager, doesn't beat around the bush. "The sick leave rates among care workers are still significantly higher than in other professions," she states, straightforward as always. TK's own data, based on sick notes from their insured, reveals that, across all occupations, the average number of sick days was a more manageable 24.6 days.
Care workers: the unsung heroes doing heroic deeds, sometimes at the expense of their own health. Austenat-Wied appeals to care providers to step up and create a nurturing and supportive work environment—an action that not only benefits the health of care workers but also boosts the attractiveness of the profession. "We've got to value our care workers," emphasizes Austenat-Wied, echoing the sentiment that care workers are priceless and indispensable in our aging society. After all, there are existing health promotion programs available.
The research entailed evaluating the sickness certificates of around 103,000 employed individuals insured with TK in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where TK insures around 224,000 people and ranks among the largest statutory health insurers.
Our state, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, employs approximately 21,000 care workers across over 1,000 long-term care facilities and services. The demand for care services is soaring, with over 120,000 people in need, a number on the rise. The "Pact for Care," initiated in the state in autumn 2023, aims to keep specialist staff and ensure the provision of care services, even in remote areas. Indeed, care facilities have had to close their doors due to staff shortages in the past.
Now, let's ponder the reasons behind the high sickness rates among care workers. Heavy physical demands, mental stress, lack of support, and shifted work schedules are among the key culprits.
To make the care sector more appealing and foster a healthier work environment, why not give these solutions a shot:
- Enhanced Training: Provide comprehensive training programs focusing on both physical and psychological well-being, and establish adequate support systems for staff members.
- Improved Work Conditions: Implement ergonomic solutions to reduce physical strain, and ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
- Flexible Scheduling: Offer flexible scheduling options to manage work-life balance and lessen the impact of shift work.
- Competitive Compensation: Offer competitive wages and benefits to allure skilled workers.
- Health Promotion Programs: Encourage physical activity and mental well-being among care workers through various programs.
By tackling these factors, care organizations can craft a more compassionate and health-focused work environment, benefit care workers, and attract more talent to the sector.
- In an effort to combat the high sickness rates among care workers, it could be advantageous to implement community policies that focus on education and self-development, such as vocational training, to enhance the skills and overall well-being of care workers.
- To foster a supportive work environment in the care sector, science-based practices for workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, particularly with regard to mental health, could be integrated into the existing vocational training programs to better equip care workers to handle the physical and psychological demands of their jobs.
- Care organizations could also consider the implementation of comprehensive career-development and skills-training programs to empower care workers with the necessary resources and opportunities for advancement, thereby reducing the potential for burnout and illness.
- In addition to these measures, care providers might want to prioritize health promotion programs that emphasize physical health as well as mental health, with a view to helping care workers maintain a broader sense of well-being and remain effective in their roles.
