Intense heat prompts increase in illness-related absences
In the sweltering heat of summer, Germany's workforce is feeling the effects of heatwaves more than ever. A regional health insurance provider, IKK Südwest, has reported a significant increase in heat-related sick notes, highlighting a concerning trend across the country.
Heat-related sicknesses, such as sunstroke, heatstroke, and circulatory problems, are on the rise, with particularly noticeable impacts in educational professions and physically demanding jobs like delivery services, construction, and skilled trades. According to IKK Südwest's CEO, Professor Jörg Loth, these heatwaves are no longer just a minor inconvenience but a tangible health risk.
In the summer of 2024, only 396 such sick notes were recorded by IKK Südwest. However, by mid-July 2025, the number had soared to 514, nearly as many as in the entire heat summer of 2022. This surge in heat-related illnesses represents over 500 employees who had reached their physical limits, a sobering statistic indeed.
The Saarland, a region covered by IKK Südwest, had the highest number of heat-related sick leaves among the regions in June 2025, with insured persons absent, on average, 3.9 days. Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse followed closely behind, with average sick leave days of 3.8 and 3.5 respectively.
Heat illnesses can have serious consequences for those affected, exacerbating chronic conditions like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and impairing workability and productivity. To combat this, Marina Tremmel, IKK-Südwest health advisor, recommends making water easily accessible and linking drinking to fixed parts of the day to encourage regular hydration.
The climate crisis is also playing a role in this increase, as longer and more pronounced heat waves in summer mean more sick notes for employers like IKK Südwest. The healthcare and occupational health systems are being tested, with workers in outdoor jobs and those in physically demanding roles being particularly vulnerable to heat stress.
To mitigate these risks, existing occupational heat safeguards in Germany, such as indoor heat limits and ventilation mandates, may need enhancement. Healthcare industry bodies are also calling for improved heat protection in workplaces and medical facilities, recognising the impact of heat on health outcomes and work capacity.
In conclusion, the case of IKK Südwest likely mirrors the national trend of rising heat-related sick leave during heatwave periods. This underscores the importance of workplace heat protections and health system investments to reduce heat-related health burdens and associated absenteeism in Germany. For specific IKK Südwest sick leave statistics during heatwaves, direct data from their reports or publications would be needed.
- In the realm of environmental science, the direct impact of climate change is manifesting through longer and more extreme heatwaves, posing significant health risks to workers and exacerbating medical conditions.
- To combat the escalating incidences of heat-related sicknesses, such as sunstroke and heatstroke, in the workforce, the implementation of workplace-wellness initiatives, including accessible water and regular hydration schedules, is being advocated.
- The rise in heat-related sick leaves highlights the urgent need for advances in the field of fitness and exercise, with a focus on improving the body's resilience against heat stress and enhancing awareness of heat-related risks for workers in physically demanding roles.
- As the healthcare and occupational health systems are being pushed to their limits by the growing number of heat-related illnesses, there is a call for strengthening existing occupational heat safeguards and advocating for improved heat protection in workplaces and medical facilities.
