Studies & evidence
Workplace health management works — numerous scientific studies show it. Here are the key figures and the evidence for the effectiveness of workplace health promotion.
All figures and legal references on this page come from German sources and relate to German law.
Key figures & scientific evidence
Every number links straight to its original source.
Health management pays off
Structured workplace health management demonstrably reduces absence. The median ROI is 1:2.7 — every euro invested returns a median €2.70 in benefit (IGA Report 40, meta-analysis of 140 studies with 500,000 participants). A US meta-analysis reports 1:5.56 and −25.1 % absence (Chapman 2012).
- iga.Report 40 — Wirksamkeit und Nutzen arbeitsweltbezogener Gesundheitsförderung ↗Median ROI: 1:2.7 (median of 47 ROI values, range −3.3 to +15.6). 85 % of studies show a positive ROI. EU median: 1.7. Basis: 140 studies, around 500,000 participants.
- Chapman (2012) — Meta-Evaluation of Worksite Health Promotion ↗−25.1 % sick days, ROI 1:5.56. 65 % of all studies show economic benefit. Comprehensive US programme. Chapman Institute, 2012 update.
What reasons are there not to start?
The body of research points in one direction — with an honest range:
ROI 1:1.7 to 1:5.56
depending on the study — median 1:2.7 per the iga.Report, with structured implementation
−20 % to −25.1 % absence
Roland Berger (company culture) and Chapman (US programmes) respectively
up to −40 % turnover
with effective health management, Roland Berger 2020
None of these numbers is a promise — they establish the category, not your result. Where you land in the range is something only your own measurement will show. The most common reason not to start has been the effort involved. That is exactly what we removed: getting started is a few clicks, not a project.
No pitch, no newsletter — we get in touch once, personally, about your situation and whether EasyWHP fits.
Sick leave & costs in 2024
Germany's sickness rate in 2024 was 5.23 % — that is 19.1 days of absence per working person (TK sick-leave report 2024). Three out of four organisations have no holistic health management. For the economy as a whole this means roughly €207 billion in lost gross value added each year.
- TK Gesundheitsreport 2025 (AU-Bericht) ↗Sickness rate 2024: 5.23 % (−0.08 pp vs. 2023). 19.1 days of absence per person. Mental disorders: +159 % since 2006 (age-adjusted).
- #whatsnext 2025 — BGM-Studie · TK / IFBG / Personalmagazin ↗Only 25 % of organisations have holistic health management — no increase since 2022. 75 % without a complete programme.
- Roland Berger — Corporate Health Management 2020 ↗Employee-friendly culture: 20 % fewer days of absence. Effective health management: −40 % turnover, +11 % revenue per employee, +76 % share value. German market: €958 million.
- BAuA GD 60 — Präsentismus: Kosten und Folgen (Meta-Review) ↗Presenteeism costs exceed absenteeism costs across the economy. Meta-review of 285 studies.
- BAuA — Volkswirtschaftliche Kosten durch Arbeitsunfähigkeit 2022 ↗€207 billion in lost gross value added, €118 billion in lost production, 888.9 million days of incapacity for work.
- Personalwirtschaft — So teuer sind AU-Fehlzeiten für Unternehmen ↗Worked example: around €300 in staff costs per employee per day of absence.
Movement works
Regular everyday movement — brisk walking, cycling — demonstrably lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, helps with weight control and improves mental well-being.
- RKI — Körperliche Aktivität ↗Moderate activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and improves mental well-being. Federal health reporting, Robert Koch Institute.
- WHO — Global recommendations on physical activity for health ↗World Health Organization: physical activity recommendations for health.
Germany moves too little
According to the WHO, 44 % of women and 40 % of men over 18 in Germany would need to be more active. Among adolescents it is even more pronounced: 88 % of girls and 80 % of boys move too little.
- WHO — Global status report on physical activity 2022 ↗Germany performs below average.
- BZfE — „Die Deutschen bewegen sich zu wenig" (2022) ↗The German Federal Centre for Nutrition puts the WHO report in context.
- WHO — Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030 ↗Recommendation: 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. 31 % of the world's population fails to meet activity targets — inactivity is a global health risk.
- TK-Bewegungsstudie 2022 — „Beweg dich, Deutschland" ↗Representative study by the health insurer Techniker Krankenkasse.
Economic cost & incapacity for work
Incapacity for work causes high economic costs every year — through lost production as well as lost value added.
Legal framework
In Germany, workplace health promotion is anchored in law (§ 20 SGB V). Statutory health insurers provide an annual prevention allowance per insured person (2025: €8.77).
- § 20 SGB V Abs. 6 — Präventionspauschale ↗Guide value and minimum amounts for prevention and health promotion (€8.77 per insured person, 2025).
- GKV-Spitzenverband — Präventionsbericht ↗Annual report on prevention and health-promotion services.
- GKV-Leitfaden Prävention ↗Action areas and criteria under § 20 SGB V.
Note: the savings potential EasyBGM shows are scenarios based on these study values — not promises. Actual effects depend on your industry, implementation and starting point.
Frequently asked questions
Does workplace health management really pay off?
Yes. Implemented in a structured way, health promotion returns a median of around €2.70 per euro invested according to the iga.Report — although in the end only your own measurement proves it. Individual US meta-studies (Chapman 2012) report higher figures.
How long does it take to see an effect?
First effects appear after 3–6 months (e.g. improved employee satisfaction). The full impact on sick leave and ROI unfolds after 9–12 months.
What does it cost us to do NOTHING?
With 180 employees and 15 sick days a year, sickness costs come to roughly €810,000. On top of that: fines of €15,000–55,000 for compliance breaches, and turnover costs of about €43,069 per departure.
What legal duties do we actually have?
Risk assessment including psychological strain (ArbSchG §5), return-to-work management from 42 days of sick leave (SGB IX §167), a company doctor (ASiG §2) and a safety specialist (ASiG §5). Health promotion is voluntary but eligible for funding. These duties apply under German law.
Do health insurers contribute?
Yes — German statutory health insurers are obliged to support workplace health promotion (§20b SGB V). The prevention allowance currently stands at €8.77 per insured person per year.
Is EasyWHP suitable for small companies?
Yes. EasyWHP starts at €299 per month (up to 250 employees) and €499 per month (250+ employees). Small companies in particular benefit from the self-service approach.
How do we measure success?
EasyWHP tracks automatically: sick leave, participation in measures, activity rate on the platform and employee satisfaction (via surveys).
What about data protection?
Fully GDPR-compliant. German servers, anonymised data, data-processing agreement included. We have passed several data-protection audits.
Convinced by the evidence?
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