[Flexible working time models in rheumatology : Results of a Germany-wide survey].

IF 1.2 4区医学 Q4 RHEUMATOLOGY

Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-08 DOI:10.1007/s00393-025-01761-6

Ann-Christin Pecher, Katinka Albrecht, Xenofon Baraliakos, Johanna Callhoff, Eugen Feist, Isabell Haase, Michaela Koehm, Martin Krusche, Philipp Sewerin, Anna Voormann, Sarah Ohrndorf, Johanna Mucke

{"title":"[Flexible working time models in rheumatology : Results of a Germany-wide survey].","authors":"Ann-Christin Pecher, Katinka Albrecht, Xenofon Baraliakos, Johanna Callhoff, Eugen Feist, Isabell Haase, Michaela Koehm, Martin Krusche, Philipp Sewerin, Anna Voormann, Sarah Ohrndorf, Johanna Mucke","doi":"10.1007/s00393-025-01761-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Background: Demographic change and a growing shortage of healthcare professionals pose significant challenges to the German healthcare system. Rheumatology is particularly affected due to increasing patient demand and evolving societal expectations regarding work-life balance, family compatibility, and gender equity. As a result, flexible working time models are gaining importance.Objective: This study aimed to assess existing and desired working time models in rheumatology, their feasibility, and perceived barriers from the perspectives of both employees and leadership.Methods: The Commission of Equal Opportunities of the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) developed two online questionnaires targeting rheumatology healthcare professionals in employee and leadership roles asking about their current employment situation, existing flexible working time models, and preferences and feasibility of various working time models. The survey was distributed between September 2024 and March 2025 via the mailing lists of the DGRh and the Association of Rheumatological Acute Clinics (VRA), and via personal contacts by email, and subsequently evaluated descriptively.Results: A total of 151 individuals participated (111 employees, 40 leaders). Part-time work, especially in outpatient care, was common and frequently desired. The 4‑day workweek and hybrid models (e.g., home office) were considered attractive but posed organizational challenges. Of the employees, 24% reported having changed jobs due to a lack of flexible options; 30% of leaders had lost staff for the same reason. Most respondents prioritized flexibility over reduced working hours.Conclusion: Flexible working time models are generally desired and often feasible in rheumatology but require tailored implementation and structural support. They are essential for improving job satisfaction and staff retention and should be strategically promoted to ensure sustainable rheumatologic care.","PeriodicalId":23834,"journal":{"name":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","volume":" ","pages":"262-271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13144166/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-025-01761-6","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/12/8 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"RHEUMATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Demographic change and a growing shortage of healthcare professionals pose significant challenges to the German healthcare system. Rheumatology is particularly affected due to increasing patient demand and evolving societal expectations regarding work-life balance, family compatibility, and gender equity. As a result, flexible working time models are gaining importance.

Objective: This study aimed to assess existing and desired working time models in rheumatology, their feasibility, and perceived barriers from the perspectives of both employees and leadership.

Methods: The Commission of Equal Opportunities of the German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) developed two online questionnaires targeting rheumatology healthcare professionals in employee and leadership roles asking about their current employment situation, existing flexible working time models, and preferences and feasibility of various working time models. The survey was distributed between September 2024 and March 2025 via the mailing lists of the DGRh and the Association of Rheumatological Acute Clinics (VRA), and via personal contacts by email, and subsequently evaluated descriptively.

Results: A total of 151 individuals participated (111 employees, 40 leaders). Part-time work, especially in outpatient care, was common and frequently desired. The 4‑day workweek and hybrid models (e.g., home office) were considered attractive but posed organizational challenges. Of the employees, 24% reported having changed jobs due to a lack of flexible options; 30% of leaders had lost staff for the same reason. Most respondents prioritized flexibility over reduced working hours.

Conclusion: Flexible working time models are generally desired and often feasible in rheumatology but require tailored implementation and structural support. They are essential for improving job satisfaction and staff retention and should be strategically promoted to ensure sustainable rheumatologic care.

查看原文本刊更多论文

风湿病学中的弹性工作时间模式：一项德国范围内的调查结果。

背景：人口结构的变化和医疗保健专业人员的日益短缺对德国医疗保健系统构成了重大挑战。由于患者需求的增加和社会对工作与生活平衡、家庭兼容性和性别平等的期望不断变化，风湿病学受到的影响尤为严重。因此，灵活的工作时间模式变得越来越重要。目的：本研究旨在从员工和领导的角度评估风湿病学中现有的和期望的工作时间模型，其可行性和感知障碍。方法：德国风湿病学会（DGRh）机会均等委员会（Commission of Equal Opportunities）针对员工和领导角色的风湿病医疗专业人员开发了两份在线问卷，询问他们的就业现状、现有的弹性工作时间模式以及各种工作时间模式的偏好和可行性。该调查于2024年9月至2025年3月期间通过DGRh和风湿病急性诊所协会（VRA）的邮件列表以及通过电子邮件的个人联系进行分发，随后进行描述性评估。结果：共151人参与，其中员工111人，领导40人。兼职工作，特别是在门诊护理，是常见的和经常需要的。每周4天工作制和混合模式（例如，家庭办公室）被认为是有吸引力的，但对组织构成挑战。在受访员工中，24%的人表示，由于缺乏灵活的选择而换了工作；30%的领导者因为同样的原因失去了员工。大多数受访者认为灵活性比减少工作时间更重要。结论：在风湿病学中，灵活的工作时间模式通常是可取的，并且通常是可行的，但需要量身定制的实施和结构支持。它们对于提高工作满意度和员工保留率至关重要，应战略性地促进以确保可持续的风湿病护理。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie 医学-风湿病学

CiteScore

2.20

自引率

20.00%

发文量

150

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Die Zeitschrift für Rheumatologie ist ein international angesehenes Publikationsorgan und dient der Fortbildung von niedergelassenen und in der Klinik tätigen Rheumatologen. Die Zeitschrift widmet sich allen Aspekten der klinischen Rheumatologie, der Therapie rheumatischer Erkrankungen sowie der rheumatologischen Grundlagenforschung. Umfassende Übersichtsarbeiten zu einem aktuellen Schwerpunktthema sind das Kernstück jeder Ausgabe. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei gesichertes Wissen zu Diagnostik und Therapie mit hoher Relevanz für die tägliche Arbeit – der Leser erhält konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen. Frei eingereichte Originalien ermöglichen die Präsentation wichtiger klinischer Studien und dienen dem wissenschaftlichen Austausch.