Executive Summary
Feeling exhausted and ill on days off? Many employees suffer from leisure sickness
Leisure sickness is not a recognised illness, but it is a reality in the lives of many workers in Germany. According to experts, possible causes include high workloads, overtime, and having to be available at all times.
Work first, then rest? For many people in Germany, this only holds true to a limited extent: 71.9% of employees experience what is known as leisure sickness, i.e. exhaustion and symptoms of illness on days off or during holidays. That’s what a representative study conducted by IU International University of Applied Sciences shows.
According to respondents, the most common symptoms of leisure sickness are fatigue or exhaustion, sleep problems, irritability, headaches and cold symptoms. In addition, 38.4% of employees say they find it difficult to switch off after work. Prof. Dr Stefanie André, Professor of Health Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences and expert on health in the workplace, explains the causes of leisure sickness: “The results show that having to be available outside working hours, high workloads and a lack of rest and relaxation are clear risk factors for symptoms of illness on days off.”
Although 95.5% of respondents consider rest and leisure time to be important and meaningful, 4 out of 10 employees in Germany say that they do not get enough rest and relaxation in their private lives to meet the demands of their jobs. According to Prof. Dr Stefanie André, younger people in particular lack strategies for coping with stress, and companies should take responsibility and offer more support. According to the IU study, 63.6% of employees in Germany agree.
In an interview about the IU study, the professor and expert on health in the workplace gives tips on how employees can recognise leisure sickness and how they can prevent it. She also explains why the way we spend our free time has a significant impact on our ability to relax.
What is leisure sickness?
Prof. Dr Stefanie André teaches and researches health management at IU International University of Applied Sciences. The expert defines the terms “leisure sickness” and “leisure sickness syndrome” for us – and explains the suspected causes.
Leisure sickness: Definition
Leisure sickness refers to a phenomenon whereby people develop symptoms of illness such as headaches, exhaustion or cold symptoms precisely when they have time off – for example, at the weekend or on holiday. The physical cause of leisure sickness is thought to be a sudden drop in stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
Leisure-sickness syndrome: Definition
Leisure sickness syndrome is an alternative term for leisure sickness and is mainly used in popular science contexts. Although leisure sickness syndrome is not (yet) an official medical diagnosis, the term shows that it is a common and serious stress response.
Leisure sickness syndrome can be understood as a specific form of PTSD, with the difference being that leisure sickness refers to temporary symptoms that typically occur at weekends or during holidays.
Why do we get ill after stress? Why?
During periods of stress, the sympathetic nervous system – part of the autonomic nervous system – becomes overactive and the body suppresses symptoms of illness. When stress levels and hormone production decrease during leisure time, immune function returns to normal, meaning suppressed symptoms can emerge and exhaustion becomes noticeable. This is referred to as parasympathetic rebound, also part of the autonomic nervous system. Extreme perfectionism, high pressure to perform or unresolved psychological stress can contribute to or exacerbate leisure sickness.
Prof. Dr Stefanie André
Professor of Health Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences and expert on health in the workplace
Key Facts
Study on leisure sickness: Key findings
Feeling ill or exhausted on days off or on holiday? Many employees know the feeling.
71.9 %
of employees in Germany have at some point felt ill or exhausted on their days off or on holiday.
Frequently or always ill on holiday? Almost 1 in 5 people says yes.
19.3 %
of employees in Germany always or frequently feel ill or exhausted on their days off or on holiday.
“I am under constant pressure and often feel overwhelmed.”
9.2 %
of respondents describe their workload as very high: “I am under constant pressure and often feel overwhelmed.”
Having to be available all the time is bad for relaxation.
54.4 %
completely agree or tend to agree that having to be available outside of working hours affects their ability to relax.
Overtime is commonplace for many employees in Germany.
80.6 %
say they work overtime every week: 42.9% work an average of up to 2 hours per week, while 37.6% work 3 hours or more.
Leisure time and private life? That’s not always enough to relax.
40.1 %
completely agree or tend to agree that they do not get enough rest and relaxation in their private lives to meet the demands of their jobs.
Just under half of companies actively look after the health of their employees.
46.8 %
of respondents completely agree or tend to agree that their employer actively supports measures to promote their health and well-being.
Feeling ill or exhausted on days off or on holiday? Many employees know the feeling.
71.9 %
of employees in Germany have at some point felt ill or exhausted on their days off or on holiday.
Frequently or always ill on holiday? Almost 1 in 5 people says yes.
19.3 %
of employees in Germany always or frequently feel ill or exhausted on their days off or on holiday.
“I am under constant pressure and often feel overwhelmed.”
9.2 %
of respondents describe their workload as very high: “I am under constant pressure and often feel overwhelmed.”
Having to be available all the time is bad for relaxation.
54.4 %
completely agree or tend to agree that having to be available outside of working hours affects their ability to relax.
Overtime is commonplace for many employees in Germany.
80.6 %
say they work overtime every week: 42.9% work an average of up to 2 hours per week, while 37.6% work 3 hours or more.
Leisure time and private life? That’s not always enough to relax.
40.1 %
completely agree or tend to agree that they do not get enough rest and relaxation in their private lives to meet the demands of their jobs.
Just under half of companies actively look after the health of their employees.
46.8 %
of respondents completely agree or tend to agree that their employer actively supports measures to promote their health and well-being.
There could be marginal deviations in the results due to rounding off.
The results show that having to be available outside working hours, high workloads and a lack of rest and relaxation are clear risk factors for symptoms of illness on days off. Younger employees in particular often feel obliged to be available outside working hours, which leads to limited rest and relaxation.”
Prof. Dr Stefanie André
Professor of Health Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences and expert on health in the workplace
Study contents
Leisure sickness: discover all the facts and figures now
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