When the teacher is sick for a long time - Hesse’s Teachers Battle Work Stress as Long-Term Sick Leave Rises
Teachers in Hesse are facing growing health challenges, with many health insurance struggles due to work-related stress and illness. Around 225 have been on sick leave for at least a year, while a small number have been absent for five years or more. Authorities are now taking steps to address the issue with new support measures.
In Hesse, about six percent of the 67,000 teachers are absent due to illness at any given time. Many suffer from psychological stress or physical conditions linked to their health insurance. Presenteeism—working while ill—can make these problems worse, sometimes leading to long-term, severe health issues.
The state has rules in place to manage long-term absences. If a teacher is off for more than six weeks in a year, the school must invite them to a BEM discussion to explore support options. For those absent three months within six months, a fitness-for-duty assessment can be ordered.
In 2023, 222 tenured teachers in Hesse were retired early due to permanent incapacity. Despite these cases, neither the Ministry of Education nor the Education and Science Workers’ Union (GEW) has recorded high-profile incidents like those seen in North Rhine-Westphalia.
To improve teacher well-being, Hesse will launch the Gesunde Schule (Healthy Schools) Competence Center in early 2026. This hub will centralise health promotion efforts, focusing on mental health, nutrition, exercise, addiction prevention, and resilience. The aim is to provide better prevention and support for school staff. The new competence center will offer structured help for teachers facing health insurance struggles. With long-term absences and early retirements on the rise, the initiative seeks to reduce work-related illness and improve overall well-being. Schools and authorities will continue monitoring the situation closely.
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