Vitamin D deficiency is widespread in Germany – and often goes unnoticed. Fatigue, low mood, and a weakened immune system in winter often have a simple cause that a bit of knowledge and a small adjustment can fix.
What does vitamin D have to do with office life?
Sunlight is the most important source of vitamin D. Anyone who commutes to the office in Germany from October to March, driving in before the sun is up and driving home after it has set, produces almost no vitamin D of their own – no matter how healthy their diet is. The result: according to the Robert Koch Institute, around 60% of adults in Germany do not reach the desirable level, and around 30% are considered deficient – more in the winter half of the year than in summer (DEGS1 study, Rabenberg et al., 2015). A deficiency can show up, for example, as fatigue and susceptibility to infections.
How do you inform in a meaningful way?
No medical diagnoses, no supplementation recommendations without a doctor's visit – but clear knowledge: What happens with a deficiency? How much sunlight would theoretically be needed? Which foods contain vitamin D, even if only in small amounts? And: at what point is a blood test at the doctor's worthwhile? Answering these questions without causing alarm – that is workplace health communication pitched at the right level. You will find more measures and how they fit in the field of action Nutrition.
How do you put the measure in place?
- 1Compile professionally checked key messages: the role of vitamin D, the risk of deficiency in winter and when a blood test makes sense.
- 2State clearly that supplementation only happens after medical clarification – no blanket recommendation to take it.
- 3Prepare content modules for two weeks: intranet post, poster for the notice board and short daylight tips.
- 4Start the campaign with the headline "Why everyone should think about vitamin D in winter" via the main channel.
- 5Ask managers to mention the information briefly in the team meeting so that it does not get lost in the flood of e-mails.
- 6Publish bite-sized pieces staggered over two weeks: first the why, then daylight tips, then the question of medical clarification.
- 7Add concrete everyday tips, such as a lunch break outdoors or a short walk in daylight.
- 8Point to low-threshold options, such as raising the vitamin D status with the family doctor or in the occupational physician (Betriebsarzt) check-up.
- 9Measure reach: clicks on the intranet post and response to the posters.
- 10Briefly check whether the messages were understood and whether more colleagues have their status clarified by a doctor.
- 11Save well-performing content as a template so that the campaign can be repeated faster next winter.
What do you need for it?
- Effort
- under 30 min
- Cost
- Free
- Setup
- 30 min
- ✓ Free
- ✓ Seasonal topic
- ✓ High relevance in winter
Tax and health insurance: what is possible
Employer health benefits can be tax-free under § 3 no. 34 of the German Income Tax Act (EStG) up to €600 per employee per year — if they are provided in addition to the salary already owed and are either certified (§ 20 SGB V) or implemented within the company's health promotion process. Gym memberships and corporate fitness are not covered. For ZPP-certified courses (e.g. from Upfit), German statutory health insurers can reimburse all or part of the course fee to their insured members — then only the amount exceeding that reimbursement is tax-free. Projects within the company can be funded under § 20b SGB V, with no entitlement. Only your tax adviser can confirm the tax exemption.
How it works in EasyWHP
This Best Practice in EasyWHP: adopt it, adapt it, measure the effect
Once adopted, the measure is ready in EasyWHP — with instructions, an invitation and surveys before and after. You adapt what fits your company and see at the end what it achieved.
Screenshots with demo data, no real people.
Adopt it for your company
Register for free — and the measure is ready to go in your cockpit: invitation, feedback survey and appointment are already set up. First cycle, first numbers for the boss.
Try EasyWHP for freeRather take a look first? To the live demo →
Contributes to
Measure the impact with
Action field
Nutrition →A fitting occasion
- Vitamin D in Winter
Related Best Practices
Not sure where to start? Self-check in approx. 7 minutes →