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Respiratory Illness Surge Pushes Sick Days Up in Lower Saxony and Thuringia

Urging stronger workplace health promotion, DAK-Gesundheit highlights a cold wave-driven rise in respiratory sick days of up to 17 percent across both regions.

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Overview

  • A severe cold wave in early 2025 drove respiratory-related sick days up by 16% in Lower Saxony and 17% in Thuringia compared to H1 2024.
  • Overall absenteeism dipped slightly year-on-year, with Lower Saxony’s rate falling to 5.7% (down 0.1 pp) and Thuringia’s to 6.0% (down 0.5 pp).
  • The average duration of sick leave shortened to 9.3 days in Lower Saxony (from 9.8) and to 9.7 days in Thuringia (from 10.5).
  • In Lower Saxony, respiratory, musculoskeletal and psychological illnesses accounted for 21%, 18% and 17% of all sick notes respectively.
  • Thuringia’s elderly and nursing care workers averaged about 15 sick days per person and childcare staff around 13 days, prompting DAK-Gesundheit leaders to demand stronger workplace health measures.