Majority goes to work despite illness

Nearly 80 percent of young workers go to work despite illness. The DGB demands good working conditions from the first working day.

15/02/2011

On the health situation of young workers, Deputy DGB leader Ingrid Sehrbrock referred on Tuesday in Berlin to the results of the last special evaluation of the DGB Good Work Index for Young Employees: „Nearly 80 percent of young workers go to work, even if they are ill, and 46 percent of them have prescribed medication to be fit for work.“ This aggravates the situation regarding a health study published today, which indicates that young workers are more than twice as likely to be on sick leave as their older counterparts.

According to the DAK Health Report presented today, 28 percent of the workforce aged 35 to 65 years indicated that they had experienced sleep problems such as sleep disturbances in the past three months. This shows a clear correlation between health and quality of work: Of sleep disorders report 45 percent of those „bad work“, but only five percent of those with „good job“. „The fact that young employees already suffer from health problems makes it clear that good working conditions and prevention are needed from day one.“

Mental illness among young workers is on the rise. One in ten between the ages of 15 and 29 has pain or other physical problems without an organic cause, often accompanied by depression. Ingrid Sehrbrock: „This development is not surprising given the fact that among young workers, the pressure of work has increased sharply and, moreover, they are often affected by precarious employment. Young people need a perspective as well as more stable and health-promoting working conditions.“ (Pm)