Worker increases with alcohol problems

According to health insurance statistics, more and more absenteeism due to addictive substances

08/22/2013

Workers are becoming increasingly scarce because they consume too many drugs. This result comes from the new „Absence Report 2013“ of the Scientific Institute of the AOK. According to this, in particular, the abuse of performance-enhancing agents is increasing. Still, however, alcohol and tobacco addiction would cause the biggest problems, because these „[...] not only ruins the health of those affected. It also has massive consequences for the economy. Alone the cost of alcohol and tobacco addiction burden the German economy with about 60.25 billion euros annually“, so the the board of the AOK Federal Association, Uwe Deh.

„Trend towards increased use of performance-enhancing funds“
More days lost due to addiction problems. This is the conclusion of the Scientific Institute of the AOK (WIdO) in the new „Absence Report 2013“, which has now been presented in Berlin. According to the information provided by the AOK Federal Association, the number of sick leave days has risen from 2.07 million absentee deaths in 2002 to 2.42 million absentee deaths in 2012 over the last ten years, an increase of 17 percent , According to the experts of WidO, be here on one side „a trend towards increased use of performance-enhancing funds“ to recognize. However, the main reasons for the many absentee days are smoking and alcohol consumption, which accounts for almost 44 percent of all addiction-related disability cases. Accordingly, there is a great need for action, because „Although a lot has been done in the past few years, we can not give the all-clear in the addictions“, said Uwe Deh at the presentation of the Absenteeism Report.

1.8 million days lost nationwide due to alcohol
Also the technician health insurance (TK) is in their current „TK Health Report“ come to similar results. Accordingly, in 2012 a total of 235,765 alcohol-related absentee days were recorded, „Extrapolated to the total population, this corresponds to 1.8 million days lost nationwide“, so the message of the TK on Wednesday, Wednesday. Alcohol abuse in the job is no longer an isolated case, also shows the amended classification in the new TK health report. For the eleven mental illnesses, which are now among the top 100 diagnoses of the main causes of sick leave, is now ranked 47 and the diagnostic key "F10 - mental and behavioral disorders by alcohol". In 2012 alone, TK recorded around 5,000 cases, which averaged over seven weeks (49.7 days) on sick leave. According to the health insurance fund, these were serious illnesses such as alcohol dependence, withdrawal syndrome and psychotic disorders.

Workers with alcohol problems are on average four times longer
The Barmer GEK came in their health report with the main topic „Alcohol consumption and gainful employment“ from last year also concluded that absenteeism due to alcohol abuse is increasing more and more. According to the fund, employees with alcohol problems had four times as long at work on average as their colleagues without addiction problems. Instead, mental illnesses, injuries and gastrointestinal problems were more frequently the cause of absenteeism.

Alcohol abuse for companies increasingly problematic
Alcohol abuse is becoming an ever greater problem for businesses. According to the Barmer GEK can be assumed, „that every 5th to 10th employee runs a risky or at least problematic alcohol consumption“. As a result, limited performance, reduced perception and longer reaction times are becoming more common. In addition to business effects, of course, increases the risk of accidents. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol plays a role in every fifth accident at work.

„Employees with a high sense of duty are particularly at risk“
the „Absence Report 2013“ It can be assumed that there is a connection between the work attitude and the search risk: „We see especially those employees who are doing their job with a high sense of duty that are at particular risk. In concrete terms, this means that they are often missing due to health problems [...]. We also see that these workers report significantly more frequently that they are nervous, that they can not switch off and, what makes it particularly dramatic, that these colleagues also take more tablets, drink more alcohol and smoke more often“, so the deputy managing director of the WidO and co-editor of the „Absence Reports 2013“, Helmut Schröder. (No)

Picture credits: Lupo