Increased Employee Absences Due to Cold Weather Outbreak - Increased Rate of Employees Taking Time Off Due to Colds
In the first half of 2025, a cold wave swept through Thuringia, resulting in an increased sickness rate, particularly among employees in the education and care sectors. According to a comprehensive analysis conducted by DAK-Gesundheit, employees in daycare centres averaged around 13 days of sickness per person, while those in elderly and healthcare sectors averaged around 15 days per person.
The overall sickness rate in Thuringia during this period was six percent, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points compared to the same period in 2024. However, the analysis, which was specific to the city of Erfurt, revealed a significant increase in respiratory illnesses by 17 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.
Marcus Kaiser, DAK regional manager, described the high sickness rate in care and daycare in Thuringia as "alarming". He emphasized the need for greater attention to prevention, health promotion, and workplace health management in these sensitive areas.
Interestingly, the analysis showed a decrease in mental illnesses by 1 percent and musculoskeletal disorders by 10 percent.
It's important to note that the analysis did not specifically detail how the cold wave in Thuringia in 2025 affected the sickness rates or trends in sick days, including in the sectors of care, education, and overall workforce. The search results primarily report on the heatwave conditions across Germany in 2025 and related events, without reference to cold wave impacts or detailed sickness statistics for Thuringia or those specific sectors.
The analysis was based on data from around 47,000 DAK-insured employees in Thuringia. If you seek precise analysis on sickness trends linked to the cold wave from DAK-Gesundheit, consulting their official publications or contacting them directly would be necessary, as this data is not currently reflected in available online sources.
On average, 60 out of 1,000 employees were sick each day from January to June 2025, with the average duration of illness per case being 9.7 days, shorter than in the same period in 2024 (10.5 days).
In conclusion, while the cold wave in Thuringia in 2025 appears to have primarily affected respiratory illnesses, it's crucial to continue monitoring these trends and taking proactive measures to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace, especially in sectors like care and education where the sickness rate is high.
- The increase in respiratory illnesses by 17 percent, as revealed in the analysis, warrants a review of the community policy, considering the sensitive nature of the care and daycare sectors.
- The decreased prevalence of mental illnesses by 1 percent and musculoskeletal disorders by 10 percent, as seen in the analysis, should not be overlooked when devising health policy in the workplace-wellness domain.
- In the context of the high sickness rate in care and daycare sectors, it's essential to focus on health and wellness initiatives, such as fitness and exercise programs, to maintain the wellbeing of employees.
- Ongoing research on health policy is critical to understand and address medical conditions like respiratory conditions more effectively, particularly in light of extreme weather events like the cold wave experienced in Thuringia in 2025.
