The ongoing corona pandemic caused a record sickness rate of 6.87 percent in the first six months of this year. Compared to the same period last year, this is an increase of 1.03 percentage points. On average, out of 100 employees, almost seven people were on sick leave every working day in the first half of 2022 - more than ever before. In total, IKK classic recorded 1,246,617 cases of incapacity for work (AU) - over 50 percent more than in the first half of 2021.
This was the result of a current evaluation of the AU data from around 1.4 million working members who are insured with the right to sick pay with the Guild Health Insurance Fund, which is one of the largest in Germany.
Corona cases have increased eightfold
Sick notes due to a corona infection among IKK classic policyholders have increased eightfold with a total of 143,606 cases compared to the same period of the previous year (1st half of 2021: 17,514); the number was more than twice as high as in all of 2021 and 2020 combined. Most corona cases were registered in March (53,668) and April (39,048).
Striking: The average duration of a corona-related incapacity to work in the first half of the year was just under ten days, significantly below the previous year's value of 20.69 days.
“This development matches the properties of the omicron variant that was predominant during the study period. Although this is considered highly contagious, in many cases it leads to milder courses.”
Frank Hippler, CEO of IKK classic
Respiratory infections also increased significantly
But Corona wasn't the only thing that shaped the disease situation in the first six months of this year. Acute respiratory illnesses such as coughs, colds or flu-like infections have tripled compared to the same period last year and caused a total of 434,627 AU cases among IKK insured persons. This means that the health insurance company registered over 40,000 more sick notes in this diagnostic group in the first half of this year than in the entire year of 2021. Respiratory diseases were also the most common reason for a sick note in the first half of 2022 and were responsible for around 35 percent of all AU cases.
“The sickness rate among our insured persons has never been as high as it is now. The current Corona summer wave isn't exactly positive either. With a view to autumn and winter, in addition to vaccination protection, consistent corona protection measures are, in our view, the best means of getting the infection process under control and finally overcoming the pandemic.
IKK boss Frank Hippler.
Disease incidence is particularly high in Thuringia
At 8.48 percent, sick leave among employees in Thuringia was by far the highest. With an incapacity to work rate of 57.23 percent, out of 100 Thuringian employees, over 57 people were on sick leave at least once in the first half of 2022. Nationwide, the average AU rate was 49.92 percent. Employees in Baden-Württemberg had the lowest sickness rate at just 6.11 percent. The AU rate here was 47.92 percent.
Source: German Health Portal
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