Wolfenbüttel Prison leads Lower Saxony in staff sick leave disparities

One prison’s workers miss a month of work on average—while others barely hit two weeks. What’s driving the extreme divide in staff well-being?

, and Administrator

2025 November 22 . 8:01 PM

1 min read

This picture is taken inside the train. At the bottom, there are two men sitting on the seat.... — This picture is taken inside the train. At the bottom, there are two men sitting on the seat. Behind them, there are group of people sitting in another seats. At the top, there is an entrance between two compartments. Towards the right, there is a window.

Wolfenbüttel Prison leads Lower Saxony in staff sick leave disparities

New figures reveal stark differences in staff sick leave across prisons in Lower Saxony. A 2023 parliamentary question by MP Bernd Weigel highlighted the issue, with Wolfenbüttel Prison recording the highest absence rates in 2024. The data shows a wide gap between facilities, raising questions about working conditions and workloads.

Wolfenbüttel Prison topped the list with an average of 32.66 sick days per employee in 2024. This figure far exceeded Meppen Prison’s rate of 16.95 days—the lowest among the state’s correctional facilities. Celle and Hanover prisons followed closely behind Wolfenbüttel, with 31.96 and 31.64 sick days per worker, respectively.

Wolfenbüttel’s sick leave rate stands out as nearly double that of Meppen’s. The prison’s transport duties add to the strain, with thousands of hours logged each year. Authorities may now face calls to address the factors behind these disparities.