Also responsible for staff shortages: increasing absences from work due to mental illness

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It’s a vicious circle: there is not one person in the team diagnosed with burnout. The remaining team members need to step in, work overtime, and in the worst-case scenario, drive themselves to burnout. More and more companies in Switzerland are tackling this problem: absenteeism due to mental illness increased by 20 percent last year. This is the conclusion of a study by insurance company Axa. Another recent survey in Germany showed that absences due to mental suffering increased by 85 percent.

More than 30 percent of employees in Switzerland feel emotionally exhausted. Simon Weder (35) from Axa also blames the labor shortage: “If vacant positions in a company cannot be filled, the pressure on existing employees increases greatly. The consequences of overload are often absenteeism due to stress.”

More than a quarter of a million positions are currently vacant in Switzerland, according to an analysis by human resources company x28. According to estimates, there will be a shortage of 800,000 workers by 2030 due to demographic developments.

Companies implement the Pflästerli policy

“Any involuntary overtime leads to absenteeism,” warns labor psychologist Hildegard Nibel (63). According to Axa research, SMEs participating in the survey stated that they combat absenteeism due to mental illnesses with a pleasant working environment, open communication and feedback culture, and measures to improve work-life balance.

Nibel thinks this is Pflästerli policy at its best: “If you do a good absence data analysis, you can detect mental and physical illnesses in a timely manner.” Alarm bells should ring if an employee does not show up for work more than five times a year. “If you don’t react, it will eventually land on your feet.”

No need for highly paid consultants. Even small companies without professional HR departments can work with affected employees to find ways to reduce stress and increase their enjoyment of work. For example, by working part-time instead of full-time. “This may be a small step, but many companies do not take it,” criticizes Nibel. “These employers can only blame themselves if absences increase.”

Lack of staff also has positive aspects

Things get worse when employers see themselves as victims and sick employees as perpetrators. Some companies spread a climate of fear by relying on the supervision of their employees, rather than standing behind them in case of mistakes and mishaps. “It’s obvious you’re mentally ill,” says Nibel.

After all, if someone is temporarily away from work due to mental illness, they now have a better chance of keeping their job. Due to labor shortages, companies have become more reluctant to evacuate struggling employees.

Source :Blick