Arbeitsbedingungen und Gesundheit von Beschäftigten
Der Zusammenhang von Arbeitsbedingungen bzw. Arbeitsbelastungen und der Gesundheit von Beschäftigten erhält durch die demografische Entwicklung, Digitalisierung und Klimawandel neues Gewicht. Wie muss Arbeit gestaltet sein, damit die Beschäftigten langfristig und gesund erwerbstätig sein können?
Dieses Themendossier dokumentiert die Ergebnisse empirischer Forschung der letzten Jahre.
Im Filter „Autorenschaft“ können Sie auf IAB-(Mit-)Autorenschaft eingrenzen.
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Literaturhinweis
Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers – Addressing an ongoing policy challenge (2026)
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Adăscăliței, Dragoș, Karel Fric, Guillermo Orfao & Tina Weber (2026): Employment and working conditions of the most vulnerable workers – Addressing an ongoing policy challenge. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Luxembourg, 56 S. DOI:10.2806/5197522
Abstract
"Labour markets in the European Union (EU) have seen a marked rise in non-standard employment over the past two decades. While such arrangements can offer greater flexibility and better work–life balance, workers can be vulnerable when such arrangements are involuntary or when they combine multiple non-standard characteristics. This report conceptualises employment vulnerability through a multidimensional lens. It analyses the prevalence of vulnerability across the EU-27 from 2009 to 2021, its relation to working life and associated health outcomes. The findings show that women, young people, migrants and other disadvantaged groups are at higher risk of employment vulnerability. Workers experiencing multiple dimensions of vulnerability have poorer job prospects, limited access to training and development opportunities, less autonomy, a lower level of organisational participation and higher risks of anxiety and depression. In contrast, among workers who experience employment vulnerability in one area only, the effects on working life are mixed. The report also reviews EU and national policy responses, highlighting measures to strengthen contractual certainty, regulate precarious contracts and support the transition to secure employment while offering both flexibility and protection." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Health, wage rate and the optimal treatment strategy (2026)
Zitatform
Alfano, Maria Rosaria, Salvatore Ciucci & Nicola Spagnolo (2026): Health, wage rate and the optimal treatment strategy. In: Journal of Economic Studies, Jg. 53, H. 5, S. 912-923. DOI:10.1108/jes-12-2024-0845
Abstract
"Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between wages and health, with the objective of identifying the conditions under which an optimal treatment strategy can minimize financial resource waste. Design/methodology/approach: The study employs a foundational labor economics model that integrates wages, leisure, and health. This theoretical approach is supported by a panel threshold econometric analysis using data from 20 OECD countries over the period 2003 to 2022. Findings: The analysis reveals that the effect of wages on health status is heterogeneous, with both positive and negative impacts depending on the wage level. A specific range of wage rates is identified in which disease prevention is more efficient than treatment. The econometric results indicate a threshold wage rate of $28.517, which corroborates the theoretical model. Research limitations/implications: The analysis is constrained by data availability, limiting the sample to 20 OECD countries. Practical implications: The findings offer policy-relevant insights for public health authorities, emphasizing the importance of choosing appropriate treatment strategies to reduce negative externalities. The results also underscore the necessity of designing income-sensitive interventions to enhance public health outcomes. Originality/value: This study is the first to provide a unified theoretical and empirical explanation of the dual effects, both beneficial and adverse, that higher wage rates can have on health." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Algorithmic management and working conditions in Europe. Evidence from the AIM-WORK Survey (2026)
Zitatform
Alvaro, Mariscal De Gante Martin & Villani Davide (2026): Algorithmic management and working conditions in Europe. Evidence from the AIM-WORK Survey. (JRC working papers series on labour, education and technology 2026,05), Sevilla, 37 S.
Abstract
"The diffusion of algorithmic management (AM) is transforming the organisation of work, raising important questions about its implications for job quality and workers' well-being. However, empirical evidence on these effects remains limited, largely due to the lack of large-scale, comparable, and representative data on the adoption of different AM practices across countries. This paper addresses this gap by exploiting the novel AIM-WORK survey, the first dataset providing detailed information on multiple algorithmic management practices and working conditions among the working population across the 27 European Union Member States. Using this unique source of evidence, we provide the first cross-country quantitative assessment of the relationship between specific AM practices and a broad set of working condition indicators. Our analysis shows that algorithmic management is not a homogeneous phenomenon: different practices have distinct implications for workers. Overall, AM is associated with lower levels of autonomy, reduced ability to take breaks, and higher work-related stress, although the magnitude and direction of these relationships vary substantially depending on the specific technology implemented. Practices involving direct algorithmic direction of work, particularly those regulating task execution and work pace, display the strongest associations with reduced worker discretion and increased work intensification. We also find that exposure to multiple AM practices tends to reinforce negative outcomes, suggesting cumulative effects of algorithmic control. Finally, the analysis reveals substantial cross-country heterogeneity, highlighting the role of institutional and organisational contexts in shaping the consequences of algorithmic management." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
The Job Demand-Resources (JD-R) model through the eyes of financial advisers: A scoping review (2026)
Arthur, Phoebe; Morrison, Ben; Earl, Joanne K.;Zitatform
Arthur, Phoebe, Ben Morrison & Joanne K. Earl (2026): The Job Demand-Resources (JD-R) model through the eyes of financial advisers: A scoping review. In: Australian journal of management, Jg. 51, H. 3, S. 959-983. DOI:10.1177/03128962251350337
Abstract
"This scoping review examines the job demands and resources impacting financial advisers through the lens of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. Given the significant challenges facing financial advisers, this review identifies key factors contributing to job stress, satisfaction and turnover in the profession. A comprehensive desktop review and thematic analysis of 53 peer-reviewed articles revealed core job demands such as compliance, emotional strain, and work overload, alongside critical job resources like professional development, support and technology. In addition, personal resources, including self-efficacy and optimism, are explored as potential moderators. The findings offer insights into the complex dynamics within the financial advisory industry, providing a foundation for future studies that may look to enhance job satisfaction and retention." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Within-Person Dynamics of Stressors and Well-Being in Hybrid-Work Arrangements: Examining the Moderating Effects of Work Location and Telework Normativeness (2026)
Zitatform
Bantz, Theresa Maria & Thomas Rigotti (2026): Within-Person Dynamics of Stressors and Well-Being in Hybrid-Work Arrangements. Examining the Moderating Effects of Work Location and Telework Normativeness. In: Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie, S. 1-15. DOI:10.1026/0932-4089/a000481
Abstract
"Hybride Arbeit hat sich weit verbreitet, doch die Befunde, wie tägliche Arbeitsanforderungen an unterschiedlichen Arbeitsorten mit Wohlbefinden zusammenhängen, sind uneinheitlich. Auf Grundlage des Job-Demands-Resources-Modells und des Challenge-Hindrance-Modells untersuchte diese Tagebuchstudie intraindividuelle Zusammenhänge zwischen Zeitdruck (challenge-ähnlich) und beruflicher Isolation (hindrance-ähnlich) sowie täglichem Arbeitsengagement und emotionaler Erschöpfung. Beschäftigte in hybriden Arbeitsmodellen (N = 88) füllten über 10 Arbeitstage hinweg Fragebögen aus (470 Beobachtungen). Bayesianische Mehrebenenmodelle testeten Zusammenhänge auf Tagesebene sowie Moderationseffekte durch Arbeitsort (Homeoffice vs. Büro) und Homeoffice-Normativität. Zeitdruck hing mit höherem Engagement und höherer Erschöpfung zusammen. Berufliche Isolation war mit geringerem Engagement und höherer Erschöpfung verbunden. Während der Arbeitsort diese Zusammenhänge insgesamt nicht moderierte, war Isolation an Homeoffice-Tagen mit höherer Erschöpfung verbunden. Homeoffice-Normativität moderierte zudem den Zusammenhang zwischen Zeitdruck und Engagement über eine Dreifachinteraktion. Insgesamt deuten die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass Dynamiken hybrider Arbeit primär durch Anforderungen getrieben sind, wobei Homeoffice-Tage die Belastungsfolgen von Isolation verstärken und organisationale Normen ortsspezifische motivationale Prozesse prägen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © 2026 Hogrefe Verlag)
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Literaturhinweis
In their own words: What Workers Like and Dislike about their Jobs (2026)
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Belot, Michèle, Xiaoying Liu & Vaios Triantafyllou (2026): In their own words: What Workers Like and Dislike about their Jobs. (CEPR discussion paper / Centre for Economic Policy Research 21044), London, 18 S.
Abstract
"This paper provides novel evidence on the key drivers of job satisfaction. We ask individuals to describe, in their own words, what they like and dislike about their jobs. These open-ended questions allow us to capture what comes to mind most naturally. We analyze the resulting free-text responses using GPT-4 to identify and classify categories of job amenities. Our main study draws on a sample of 500 full-time U.S.-based employees aged 30 to 55. We find that flexible work arrangements, workplace relationships, and autonomy consistently rank among the most valued aspects of work, while poor workplace relationships, long work hours, and heavy workloads dominate the list of dislikes and rank above factors such as pay. Our approach offers a fresh lens on what job amenities workers are most satisfied and dissatisfied with." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Can different types of employee involvement in decision-making suppress the effects of work intensification and job insecurity on employee well-being? An analysis of the European Working Conditions Survey 2021 (2026)
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Boxall, Peter, Gordon W. Cheung, Md Shamirul Islam, Kenneth Cafferkey & Keith Townsend (2026): Can different types of employee involvement in decision-making suppress the effects of work intensification and job insecurity on employee well-being? An analysis of the European Working Conditions Survey 2021. In: Economic and Industrial Democracy, S. 1-31. DOI:10.1177/0143831x261421726
Abstract
"Work intensification and job insecurity undermine the quality of working life. To what extent can different types of employee involvement in decision-making ameliorate their impacts on employee well-being? Deploying job demands–resources theory and interrogating the European Working Conditions Survey 2021, this study shows that work intensification and job insecurity reduce well-being via lower work engagement and higher exhaustion. While each enhances job quality, individual organizational influence has a greater effect than task discretion in suppressing the negative effects of work intensification. The largest gains for employee and societal well-being will come through greater worker involvement at this level of participation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
When work loses its meaning: Voice or exit? A longitudinal analysis with the 2013–2016 French Working Conditions surveys: Special Issue: Utopias at work: theories, methods and practices for more democratic work Relations (2026)
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Coutrot, Thomas & Coralie Perez (2026): When work loses its meaning: Voice or exit? A longitudinal analysis with the 2013–2016 French Working Conditions surveys. Special Issue: Utopias at work: theories, methods and practices for more democratic work Relations. In: Economic and Industrial Democracy, Jg. 47, H. 3, S. 1043-1069. DOI:10.1177/0143831x251358583
Abstract
"Although generating increasing debate in the media and in society, meaningful work has only recently become a legitimate research object in labour economics. The authors theoretically ground the concept of meaningful work by drawing on the theory of the psychodynamics of work. This leads to three dimensions of the meaning of work: social usefulness, ethical coherence and development capacity. Then, they propose an empirical measure of this concept using the French Working Conditions surveys. Exploiting the surveys’ longitudinal nature (2013–2016), they assess how workers react to meaningless work (exit or voice). Using instrumental variable techniques to alleviate endogeneity biases that may affect estimations, they conclude that meaningless work favours job quits and, to a lesser degree, unionization." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Early retirement for workers in physically demanding jobs? An ageing society conundrum (2026)
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Dalen, Hendrik P. van & Kène Henkens (2026): Early retirement for workers in physically demanding jobs? An ageing society conundrum. In: Ageing & Society, Jg. 46, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1017/s0144686x25100378
Abstract
"To what extent should workers in physically demanding jobs be given the possibility of earlier retirement? This is one of the many pressing pension reform issues that ageing societies face. This article examines the extent to which such special treatment is supported by the general public. We uniquely combine a representative survey (2,136 respondents) with a vignette study to explore what respondents in the Netherlands consider a fair public pension age for 29 jobs that differ by level of physical demand. We also examine whether these pension ages are associated with other attributes that are important in an ageing society, such as the presence of chronic health conditions and informal care-giving responsibilities – such attributes may affect support for the special provisions for workers in physically demanding jobs – and control for stereotypical views about older workers. The findings reveal notable differences in public pension ages, indicating that workers in highly physically demanding jobs should be given the opportunity to retire earlier and those working in physically ‘light’ jobs should work slightly beyond the standard public pension age. We compare these differences to existing special retirement programmes for physically demanding or arduous jobs. Interestingly, non-work factors – namely, chronic health conditions and care-giving responsibilities – weigh more heavily in deciding a fair or reasonable public pension age. This suggests that organizations and policy makers facing an ageing society will have to deal with a broader set of problems than can be solved by offering early retirement programmes for specific jobs." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Work intensification, workers wellbeing and labour compensation (2026)
Zitatform
Davide, Villani (2026): Work intensification, workers wellbeing and labour compensation. (JRC working papers series on labour, education and technology 2026,03), Sevilla, 47 S.
Abstract
"Whether technological progress alleviates the burden of labour or instead intensifies it remains a central tension in political economy. This paper contributes to this debate along three interconnected axes. First, it examines whether automation is associated with higher work intensity, measured by exposure to high-speed work and tight deadlines. Second, it investigates whether such intensification translates into lower well-being, proxied by work-related stress. Third, it tests whether intensified working conditions are compensated through higher wages, coherent with the theory of equalising differences. Using representative data on the European working population, we combine non-linear models, multi-way fixed effects regressions, RIF-OLS estimations, RIF-Oaxaca-Blinder decompositions, and IPWRA techniques to analyse both average and distributional effects. We document three main findings. (1) Machine-paced work is systematically associated with higher work intensity. Workers whose pace is dictated by machines are significantly more likely to work at high speed and under tight deadlines. (2) Higher work intensity is strongly associated with greater work-related stress. Moreover, mediation analysis shows that the stress effect operates primarily through intensified work rhythms rather than through the use of automated machines per se. (3) We find limited support for compensating differentials hypothesis. Wage effects are concentrated at specific points of the income distribution and in selected occupations. For most workers, however, intensified work is not associated with a significant wage premium. Overall, the results suggest that contemporary machine-paced work intensifies labour and increases stress, while offering little systematic compensation through wages, challenging the notion that labour markets naturally price the disutility of intensified work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Atypische Arbeitszeiten und Konflikte mit dem Privatleben: Eine Mixed-Methods-Untersuchung mit Einsatzkräften der Bereitschaftspolizei zur Beschreibung des Phänomens und seiner Bedeutung für das Wohlbefinden (2026)
Dohnke, Birte; Kahlert, Daniela; Schleicher, Katja; Gusy, Burkhard;Zitatform
Dohnke, Birte, Daniela Kahlert, Burkhard Gusy & Katja Schleicher (2026): Atypische Arbeitszeiten und Konflikte mit dem Privatleben. Eine Mixed-Methods-Untersuchung mit Einsatzkräften der Bereitschaftspolizei zur Beschreibung des Phänomens und seiner Bedeutung für das Wohlbefinden. In: Arbeit. Zeitschrift für Arbeitsforschung, Arbeitsgestaltung und Arbeitspolitik, Jg. 35, H. 2, S. 113-140. DOI:10.1515/arbeit-2026-0007
Abstract
"Atypische Arbeitszeiten kommen zunehmend in verschiedenen beruflichen Kontexten vor und wirken sich auf das Privatleben und Wohlbefinden aus. Definitorische Beschreibungen und Untersuchungen der verschiedenen Formen unterscheiden sich, was Auswirkungen auf Analysen zu deren gesundheitlichen Folgen und deren praktischen Implikationen hat. Ziel war es daher, das Phänomen atypischer Arbeitszeiten exemplarisch an einer stark betroffenen Berufsgruppe vertieft zu beschreiben und die Bedeutung für Konflikte mit dem Privatleben und für das Wohlbefinden zu quantifizieren. Die Daten stammen von 329 Einsatzkräften der Bereitschaftspolizei. Mit einem Mixed-Methods-Design wurden zunächst 108 Freitextangaben inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet, die identifizierten Themen wurden dann mit quantitativen Daten (COPSOQ-Skalen) operationalisiert und mit Work-Privacy-Konflikten, Erschöpfung und Arbeitsengagement korreliert. Es wurden sechs Formen atypischer Arbeitszeiten mit teils sehr ausdifferenzierten Unterformen identifiziert, davon am häufigsten die Form „Unvorhersehbarkeit“ mit den Unterformen „kurzfristige Einsatzzeiten“ und „geänderte Einsatzzeiten“ sowie die Form „erweiterte Erreichbarkeit“. Mehr als die Hälfte der Freitextinhalte betraf andere Arbeitsbedingungen wie Planung, Bedeutung der Einsätze, Anerkennung und arbeitsfreie Zeiten. Alle Formen hingen substanziell mit Work-Privacy-Konflikten und Erschöpfung zusammen, „Unvorhersehbarkeit“ auch mit Arbeitsengagement. Mit den differenzierten Ergebnissen liefert die Untersuchung mögliche Ansatzpunkte, wie die Vereinbarkeit mit dem Privatleben und das Wohlbefinden bei der Bereitschaftspolizei verbessert werden können." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Technostress, psychosocial safety climate, and worker well-being in automated manufacturing: A two-wave study (2026)
Zitatform
Elbir, Umut & Kagan Cenk Mizrak (2026): Technostress, psychosocial safety climate, and worker well-being in automated manufacturing: A two-wave study. In: PLoS ONE, Jg. 21, H. 4. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0345249
Abstract
"The rapid digitalization of manufacturing has introduced new psychosocial risks alongside productivity gains, particularly in the form of technostress. This study investigates how technostress influences worker mental health, burnout, engagement, and safety outcomes in automated manufacturing environments, and whether job resources and psychosocial safety climate (PSC) serve as protective factors. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, a two-wave panel design was employed with data collected from 605 employees at baseline and 450 employees at a four-week follow-up across five automated manufacturing plants. Multilevel and moderation analyses revealed that while direct effects of technostress on outcomes were directionally consistent with theoretical expectations, they were not statistically significant. Instead, job resources—including supervisory ICT support, recovery opportunities, and digital literacy—emerged as significant buffers, mitigating the potential negative effects of technostress. Furthermore, PSC at the crew and organizational level predicted improved engagement, better mental health, and stronger safety behaviors, underscoring its role as a higher-order organizational resource. These findings suggest that technostress in manufacturing is contingent on contextual factors: it becomes harmful when resources are insufficient and protective climates are absent. The study contributes to technostress and occupational health literature by integrating psychosocial and technological stressors in a multilevel framework and offers practical guidance for managers seeking to balance digitalization with worker well-being." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
How ICT shapes wages, working conditions, and job satisfaction (2026)
Zitatform
Fleche, Sarah, Eva Moreno Galbis, Ariell Reshef & Claudia Senik (2026): How ICT shapes wages, working conditions, and job satisfaction. (CEP discussion paper / Centre for Economic Performance 2143), London, 59 S.
Abstract
"We study how the widespread diffusion of ICT affects wages, working conditions, and job satisfaction. We frame our empirical investigation with a model in which ICT can improve both wages and working conditions by increasing firms' output. Using French matched employer-employee data and an instrumental variable approach that is motivated by the model, we find that ICT diffusion in 2013-2019 has been beneficial to workers, who experienced both higher wages and better working conditions, particularly through greater flexibility, physical comfort, and safety. In contrast, ICT use has also increased psychological stress and work intensity. These effects vary across workers, firms, occupations and sectors, depending on their characteristics. Despite overall improvements in wages and working conditions, we estimate only modest positive effects of ICT use on job satisfaction. We discuss potential explanations for this finding." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Arbeit, Technik, reflexive Emanzipation: Zur demokratischen Aushandlung kollektiver Bindungen (2026)
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Frey, Philipp, Felix Gnisa & Isabelle Puccini (2026): Arbeit, Technik, reflexive Emanzipation. Zur demokratischen Aushandlung kollektiver Bindungen. In: Prokla, Jg. 56, H. 222, S. 85-102. DOI:10.32387/prokla.v56i222.2225
Abstract
"In dem Beitrag untersuchen wir das emanzipative Potenzial technischoptimierter Arbeit in Zeiten ökonomischer und ökologischer Krisen. Arbeit und Technologie werden als ambivalente Kräfte verstanden, die sowohl Emanzipation ermöglichen als auch Herrschaft reproduzieren. Auf Grundlage einer literaturgeleiteten Analyse werden zwei Emanzipationsarenen diskutiert: die Befreiung von Arbeit durch Automatisierung sowie die Emanzipation in der Arbeit durch demokratische Technikgestaltung. Angesichts der Grenzen beider Ansätze wird für eine dritte Arena argumentiert, die ein reflektiertes Emanzipationsverständnis eröffnet: die Demokratisierung von Arbeit als kollektiver Aushandlung geteilter Bindungen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku, © Verlag Westfälisches Dampfboot)
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Literaturhinweis
Self-employment, health, and health care: When the going gets tough, the tough get going? (2026)
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Garrouste, Clémentine, Alain Paraponaris & Nicolas Sirven (2026): Self-employment, health, and health care: When the going gets tough, the tough get going? In: Economics and Human Biology, Jg. 60. DOI:10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101567
Abstract
"This study provides a life-course analysis of the relationship between self-employment, health, and health care use among individuals aged 50 and older in Europe. Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), we apply first-difference and dynamic panel data models that go beyond standard approaches in mitigating endogeneity concerns. Our findings show that the self-employed enjoy better health at younger ages, consistent with a selection effect. In addition, they experience a steeper decline in physical health over time. We also document two distinct phases of health care use: during working life, the self-employed are more likely to be hospitalised, suggesting delayed care until acute needs arise; after retirement, the number of medical visits increases, consistent with a lower opportunity cost of care." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Associations Between Employment and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews (2026)
Gerdes, Ryan ; Doroshenko, Alexander ; Els, Charl ; Jackson, Tanya D. ; Gross, Douglas P. ; Lytvyak, Ellina ; Straube, Sebastian ; Hagtvedt, Reidar ; Burton, A. Kim ; Roberts, Richard ; Dennett, Liz ; Deibert, Danika ;Zitatform
Gerdes, Ryan, Tanya D. Jackson, Richard Roberts, Ellina Lytvyak, Danika Deibert, Liz Dennett, A. Kim Burton, Douglas P. Gross, Charl Els, Alexander Doroshenko, Reidar Hagtvedt & Sebastian Straube (2026): Associations Between Employment and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews. In: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, S. 1-22. DOI:10.1007/s10926-025-10357-5
Abstract
"The subject of employment as a determinant of health has received considerable attention from researchers. To our knowledge, a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the health effects of employment has not been completed in almost 20 years. This systematic review aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of the associations between employment status and any measurable domain of health. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, and APA PsycINFO. We included peer-reviewed, full-text systematic reviews or overviews published in English between January 2012 and November 2024. Two reviewers independently screened resultant publications and extracted data from those found eligible for the review. Our search yielded 1862 reviews and meta-analyses, 49 of which were eligible for synthesis. Employment status was associated with several health domains including general health and wellbeing, mental health, alcohol and substance use disorders, cardiovascular health, systemic inflammation, sleep quality, cognitive functioning, and mortality. Being employed was almost universally associated with favourable physical and mental health outcomes, with evidence to suggest re-employment may facilitate improvements in health after a period of unemployment. Socioeconomic status was a notable factor which affected health outcomes for both employed and unemployed people, illustrative of social gradients in health. Insecure or low-quality work demonstrated the potential to override identified health benefits of work. Heterogeneity in the operationalization of employment across publications, and the influence of survivorship bias on health outcomes highlights a task for future research to establish causality in the relationship between employment status and health." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Dauerbaustelle Betrieb: Chancen und Herausforderungen betrieblicher Prävention in Transformationsprozessen (2026)
Gerlmaier, Anja;Zitatform
Gerlmaier, Anja (2026): Dauerbaustelle Betrieb: Chancen und Herausforderungen betrieblicher Prävention in Transformationsprozessen. (IAQ-Report 2026-05), Duisburg, 15 S. DOI:10.17185/duepublico/86146
Abstract
"Zunehmend mehr Beschäftigte sind infolge betrieblicher Transformationsprozesse von steigenden psychischen Belastungen und Stress betroffen, was zu erhöhten krankheitsbedingten Fehlzeiten, Fluktuation und Produktivitätsverlusten führen kann. Der Beitrag analysiert anhand einer interventionsbasierten Fallstudie in einem stahlverarbeitenden Unternehmen, welche Arbeitsbelastungen durch Reorganisation entstehen und welche konkreten Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten zur Entlastung bestehen. Es zeigt sich, dass lokal entscheidbare Maßnahmen zur Reduktion psychischer Belastungen wie Arbeitsverdichtung, entgrenzte Arbeitszeiten und digitale Stressoren kurzfristig umsetzbar sind, während ressourcenintensive Lösungen oft verschoben werden. Die Ergebnisse machen deutlich, dass Arbeitsschutz in Transformationsphasen anspruchsvoll, aber machbar ist, insbesondere durch partizipative und kontextsensible Ansätze in der anlassbezogenen Gefährdungsbeurteilung psychischer Belastungen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
The impact of working conditions on sickness absence among older workers: a systematic review (2026)
Zitatform
Gero, Krisztina, Christoph Benken & Nico Dragano (2026): The impact of working conditions on sickness absence among older workers: a systematic review. In: European Journal of Ageing, Jg. 23, H. 1. DOI:10.1007/s10433-026-00921-0
Abstract
"Population aging poses major challenges to the health and social systems of all countries. It also affects the labor force participation of older adults, shifting toward delayed retirement. However, older workers are more likely to face health issues, leading to productivity loss through sickness absence. To explore factors associated with illness-related absence while considering the significant amount of time spent at work, we conducted a systematic review assessing the effects of physical and psychosocial working conditions on sickness absence among older workers aged ≥ 50 years. A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE, CINAHL Ultimate, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science databases on December 3, 2025. Additionally, a forward and backward reference search was performed. Research that focused on older working adults was scarce. In total, 24 articles were included. Results showed that high physical job demands, physical job hazards, high psychosocial job demands, low job control, low rewards, effort–reward imbalance, low collegial and highmanagerial social support, low procedural justice, medium role clarity, high role conflicts, skill variety, certain work-time-related characteristics (e.g., shift work, long working hours, and non-flexible work hours), and—among women—sexual violence were all associated with a higher risk of sickness absence among older workers. However, some of the presented findings were based on single studies. We identified significant work-related factors for designing interventions and a supportive environment to reduce sick leave in elder workers. Nevertheless, further age-stratified research is necessary to strengthen the evidence and accommodate the needs of the aging, economically active population." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))
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Literaturhinweis
Anstieg der Fehlzeiten im Jahr 2022 liegt nur bedingt an elektronischer Krankschreibung (2026)
Zitatform
Grabka, Markus M. & Oskar Breer (2026): Anstieg der Fehlzeiten im Jahr 2022 liegt nur bedingt an elektronischer Krankschreibung. In: DIW-Wochenbericht, Jg. 93, H. 20, S. 299-307. DOI:10.18723/diw_wb:2026-20-1
Abstract
"In Deutschland sind insbesondere im Jahr 2022 die krankheitsbedingten Fehlzeiten Beschäftigter stark gestiegen. Von verschiedener Seite wurde argumentiert, dass hierfür die Einführung der elektronischen Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung (eAU) ursächlich wäre. In den amtlichen Daten fehlten bisher die Fehlzeiten, die nicht an die Krankenkassen übermittelt wurden, was seit Einführung der eAU nicht mehr auftritt. Diese Lücke besteht in den Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) nicht. Da aber auch nach den SOEP-Daten die Fehlzeiten in ähnlichem Umfang zunahmen, dürfte der Anstieg andere Ursachen haben. Vielmehr dürften sowohl stark vermehrte Atemwegserkrankungen als auch Verhaltensänderungen im Nachgang der Corona-Pandemie die Fehlzeiten verändert haben. Um die ohnehin seit 2008 gestiegenen Fehlzeiten zu reduzieren, sollte über die Einführung einer Teilkrankschreibung nachgedacht werden. Damit könnte die bisherige strikte ärztliche Beurteilung in gesund oder krank geändert und damit ein Arbeiten mit reduzierter Stundenzahl ermöglicht werden." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)
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Literaturhinweis
Körperlich belastende Jobs: Profile, Determinanten und Folgen (2026)
Zitatform
Grunau, Philipp & Justus Stadler (2026): Körperlich belastende Jobs. Profile, Determinanten und Folgen. (Forschungsbericht / Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Soziales 682), Berlin, 62 S.
Abstract
"Dieser Sonderbericht untersucht die Verbreitung, Determinanten und Folgen körperlich belastender Arbeit in Deutschland. Auf Basis von Befragungsdaten des Linked Personnel Panel (LPP) sowie administrativen Daten der Beschäftigtenhistorik (BeH) und des BERUFNETS der Bundesagentur für Arbeit wird das „Physical Activity Paradox“ im deutschen Arbeitsmarkt analysiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass physische Belastungen trotz eines leichten Rückgangs durch Berufswechsel – insbesondere während der COVID-19-Pandemie – weiterhin weit verbreitet sind, wobei (junge) Männer und Personen mit geringerem Qualifikationsniveau überproportional betroffen sind. Panelanalysen mit personenfixen Effekten belegen zudem, dass eine Zunahme der körperlichen Belastung signifikant mit einer Verschlechterung der allgemeinen und mentalen Gesundheit sowie einem Anstieg von – potenziell kostspieligem – Präsentismus einhergeht. Zudem sinken die Arbeitszufriedenheit und das Engagement, während die Wechselabsicht steigt. Der Bericht unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit präventiver Maßnahmen zur Erhaltung der Arbeitsfähigkeit in belastenden Berufsfeldern, die sich häufig durch bedeutsame Arbeitskräfteengpässe auszeichnen." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)