Studies & sources
Why workplace health management works — and what we base that on
The benefit of physical activity and workplace health promotion is well documented. Here are the studies and sources BGM-Kompass refers to.
Does physical activity work?
Regular everyday activity — brisk walking, cycling — demonstrably lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, helps with weight control and improves mental wellbeing.
Does Germany move 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 scores 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 ↗Global action plan to promote physical activity.
- TK-Bewegungsstudie 2022 — „Beweg dich, Deutschland" ↗Representative study by the Techniker Krankenkasse.
Does WHP pay off?
Structured workplace health promotion demonstrably reduces absence. The average ROI is 1:2.7 — every euro invested returns €2.70 on average (iga.Report 40, 2019: 47 ROI values from the review by Baxter et al. 2014; overall the report covers around 140 studies with approx. 500,000 participants). A US meta-analysis records 1:5.56 and −25.1 % absence (Chapman 2012).
- iga.Report 40 — Wirksamkeit und Nutzen arbeitsweltbezogener Gesundheitsförderung ↗Average ROI: 1:2.7 from 47 ROI values (range −3.3 to +15.6); 85 % of the ROI values are above 1. EU studies average 1.7. Overall around 140 studies with approx. 500,000 participants.
- Chapman (2012) — Meta-Evaluation of Worksite Health Promotion ↗−25.1 % sickness absence days, ROI 1:5.56. Comprehensive US programme. Chapman Institute, 2012 update.
How high are the sickness rate and absence days?
Across Germany, the sickness rate averaged 5.66 % in 2025 (Federal Ministry of Health, KM1 statistics; German figures). Among TK-insured people it was 5.23 % in 2024 — 19.1 days of absence per working person (TK health report). Three out of four organisations have no holistic health management.
- TK Gesundheitsreport 2025 (AU-Bericht) ↗Sickness rate 2024: 5.23 % (−0.08 pp vs. 2023). 19.1 absence days 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 complete health management.
- Roland Berger — Corporate Health Management 2020 ↗Employee-friendly culture: 20 % fewer absence days. 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 economy-wide. Meta-review of 285 studies.
Which legal framework applies?
Workplace health promotion is anchored in German law (§ 20b SGB V). For prevention and health promotion as a whole, statutory health insurers spend an annual guideline amount per insured person (§ 20 (6) SGB V; 2025: €8.77).
- § 20 SGB V Abs. 6 — Präventionspauschale ↗Benchmark 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 fields and criteria under § 20 SGB V.
Please note: savings potentials shown by BGM-Kompass are scenarios based on these study values — not guarantees. Actual effects depend on sector, execution and starting point.